Photo courtesy by Albany Reed
The 1st Annual Billion Dollar Oyster Party located on 159 Pioneer St. supported by the New York Harbor Foundation was a success.
30 Oyster Farms from all over the country came to support the oyster party this year. BOP, which is an ecosystem restoration and education project aimed at restoring one billion live oysters to New York Harbor and engaging hundreds of thousands of school children through restoration based STEM education programs.
Students at New York Harbor School have been growing and restoring oysters in New York Harbor for the last six years. They have learned to SCUBA dive safely, raise oyster larvae, operate and maintain vessels, build and operate commercial-scaled oyster nurseries, design underwater monitoring equipment, and conduct long-term authentic research projects all in the murky, contaminated, fast moving waters of one of the busiest ports in the country.
Patrons had the chance to enjoy delectable specialties from NYC restaurants which included Brooklyn Crab, Gramercy Tavern, Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, Lobster Place, Cull & Pistol Oyster Bar, Oceana, Saxon and Parole, and Shoppe Ronni Sue.
-by Albany Reed
