Gov. Hochul announced $10 million for the Town of Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery. The establishment of the Regional Shellfish Hatchery will expand New York’s blue economy and address pressing environmental, economic and cultural challenges while fostering sustainable development and resiliency in the region.

“We are preserving Long Island’s rich maritime history while it faces various threats, from historic overfishing to climate change,” Hochul said. “These key investments will support the shellfish industry on Long Island, an important aspect to the region’s economy and water quality.”

“We are grateful to Gov. Hochul for providing the necessary resources to move this vital project forward. A new Long Island regional facility will be a great addition to ‘Sustain a Bay,’ and an asset to all of the towns on Long Island currently expanding their programs,” said Islip Town supervisor Carpenter.

“Demand from other towns has outpaced the supply, and this new facility will enable the Town of Islip to accommodate the region’s growth. This will benefit not only marine life, but also industries such as tourism and recreation that rely on healthy ecosystems.”

The funding will help to build a new facility in the Town of Islip, which is rapidly aging and one of only a few in-state shellfish hatcheries, where New York shellfish farmers can purchase juvenile shellfish, or seed, to stock their farms. Funding is provided from existing state capital funding sources.

The new facility will produce approximately 100 to 200 million single-set juvenile oysters and clams, and approximately 500 million oyster larvae and spat on shell oysters in support of local shellfish restoration efforts, which represents a significant increase from its current production of 20 to 40 million clams and oysters. This will help to meet the needs of the growing aquaculture industry, as 39 percent of New York’s oyster seed was purchased by oyster farmers from hatcheries in New England states in 2023.

“Thanks to Gov. Hochul’s continued support of Long Island’s irreplaceable coastal habitat, this significant investment will help grow the capacity of the town of Islip Regional Shellfish Hatchery,” said Department of Environmental Conservation interim commissioner Sean Mahar.

“As coastal flooding and the impacts of climate change continue to impact the regional market, investments like this advance financial stability and economic growth for shellfish farming businesses on the Great South Bay and other marine waters on Long Island.”

“New York’s agricultural industry is incredibly diverse, spanning from land to sea. Reinvigorating New York’s aquaculture industry is just another piece in the larger puzzle of strengthening our vibrant local food system,” shared New York State Agriculture commissioner Richard A. Ball. “This investment in the Regional Shellfish Hatchery on Long Island aligns with the Governor’s State of the State plans to launch New York’s Blue Food Transformation initiative, which will provide a boost to marine agriculture, promote a healthy natural environment, and provide New Yorkers with a nutritious source of locally grown seafood.”

“These funds help Suffolk County continue to bolster this incredibly important initiative which helps support our economy, supports our fishing community, and preserves a way of life that personifies the history of Suffolk County,” stated Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine. “We thank the Governor for supporting this program.”

Coastal flooding and the impacts of climate change have hampered efforts to keep pace with the growing regional market demand. Oysters have an important environmental role and biofiltration by shellfish may help to mitigate and reduce harmful algal blooms and nutrients, which improves water quality. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day under optimal environmental conditions. Oyster production in Islip’s waters from the town’s bay bottom access program has risen from 0 percent to 23 percent of the cultured oysters harvested in New York State over the last 15 years.

The Town of Islip’s Bay Management Program & Shellfish Hatchery also plays a vital role in educating the public, researching innovations in aquaculture, and meeting the needs of the marine community of Long Island and ensures the continuation of the maritime tradition of shellfish farming on the Great South Bay and other marine waters on Long Island.

The announcement builds on Hochul’s 2024 State of the State, which launched New York’s Blue Food Transformation initiative to bolster marine agriculture, promote a healthy natural environment, and provide New Yorkers with a nutritious source of locally grown seafood. As part of this initiative and building on the bill signed last year to expand cuisine trails, the FY25 budget includes $75,000 for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County to develop New York’s first-ever seafood trail on Long Island, emphasizing the culinary art of these delicious agricultural products and increasing consumer demand.

As part of New York’s Blue Food Transformation, the FY25 budget also includes $5 million in capital funding for farmers to invest in marine dock space, processing equipment, and other vital infrastructure for the growth of their businesses. This grant program will be administered by the Peconic Land Trust.