This Thanksgiving, we are highlighting the history of the original stewards of New York Harbor by publishing Billion Oyster Project’s first Land Acknowledgement of the people of the Lenape tribe, and sharing resources that our team has found helpful. 

Can you picture this future shoreline? Restored oyster reefs, swarming with fish and birdlife, bringing together wild animals and New Yorkers where Brooklyn meets New York Harbor. These are the places, people, and stories that inspire us every day. You can help us make more of these stories a reality by supporting Billion Oyster Project this giving season.

For the past three years, Swedish artist Linnéa Gad has been engaged in interdisciplinary research around the lifecycle of lime. Fascinated by the material’s transformative journey from protective shells of marine organisms to the creation of limestone, she has explored both recent oyster rehabilitation in the Hudson estuary and million-year-old formations of fossiliferous limestone in Scandinavia. Marking Gad’s first public artwork, the two large-scale sculptures Shoals I-II will be installed in Nolan Park on Governors Island, and presented in partnership with Billion Oyster Project. Just steps away from New York Harbor, where oysters are currently being restored, this installation invites visitors to experience wild structures that could provide a good habitat for young oysters (or spat).

As Climate Week NYC approaches, the urgency for individual and collective action is palpable. Many of us find ourselves in a unique and pressing situation to address global challenges – large issues with an incomprehensible number of impacts and solutions. For those of us outside of major legislation, we have to think smaller and smarter. This is where Billion Oyster Project’s work shines bright.

For the fourth year in a row, Billion Oyster Project is proud to be an 11th Hour Racing grantee in the organization’s “Ecosystem Restoration'' category. Billion Oyster Project has reintroduced over 100 million oysters across 18 restoration sites in New York Harbor since 2015. With the help of supporters like 11th Hour Racing, we are scaling up to add 100 million new oysters to our waterways every year.

The Citizens Water Quality Testing Program (CWQT) was started by the New York City Water Trail Association, in collaboration with Billion Oyster Project, and Hudson River Park's River Project. The program operates with support from Two Trees Management. Other partners this year include the Sarah Lawrence Center for the Urban River, SUNY Maritime's Marine Environmental Science program, the Bronx River Alliance, Queens College, Newtown Creek Alliance, the Interstate Environmental Commission, and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. Check back every Friday (May through October) for a NY Harbor water quality update from Billion Oyster Project staff and CWQT program volunteers.

On July 15th, 2023, Billion Oyster Project celebrated City of Water Day. City of Water Day celebrated its 16th year of advocating for a “climate-resilient” New York and New Jersey Harbor. Billion Oyster Project held six events across 3 of the 5 boroughs located at Fresh Kills, Domino Park, Sebago Canoe Club, SUNY Maritime, Kaiser Park, and Nolan Park, Governors Island. Activities varied from kayaking and canoeing to interactive art.