The East Hampton Town Shellfish Hatchery was launched in 1989. Housed in one of the last remaining structures from the World War II Naval Torpedo Range on the shore of Fort Pond Bay in Montauk, its development was made possible by a grant to East Hampton Town by New York State.
The Town's desire to undertake a serious shellfish seeding program had been stimulated by a region-wide series of smothering algae blooms (brown tide) that first appeared in 1985, devastating the area's shellfish resources.
The program is designed for the annual production of ten million seed shellfish for the purpose of restocking public beds in Town and surrounding State waters. Hard clams, oysters and bay scallops are all grown by the hatchery.
Hatchery staff member Barley Dunne with trays of juvenile scallops
Processes
and
Techniques
Spawning as well as larval and early juvenile rearing take place at the Montauk site. Later juvenile nursery systems employing flowing natural water reside in Three Mile Harbor in East Hampton. Field growout systems consisting of rafted trays and suspended nets reside in Napeague Harbor in Amagansett.
Each year, the crop is started from eggs in the late winter and early spring and grown through the warm months to be field planted by late summer and into the fall. By season's end, hard clams reach a size of one half to three quarters of an inch, while oysters and scallops can grow to one and a half to two inches. Clams reach a harvestable size in three to five years, oysters in two to three years, and scallops in one year
Environmental Benefits of Shellfish Enhancement
In addition to being a valuable commercial and recreational food product, all of these shellfish act as mini water filters. As filter-feeding animals, they are constantly pumping water through their bodies and processing the organic nutrients found in it as their food source. In excess, some of these organic nutrients are responsible for pollution in our harbors and bays. A large healthy shellfish population can assist with the removal of contaminants and ultimately improve the water quality.
Kalwall tubes with algae cultures, used to feed young shellfish
Additional Projects
Employees Jennifer Rice and Jennifer Gaites separating and counting naturally set scallops, as part of a three-year grant project
Monitoring of catches to determine effectiveness of seeding.
Trials in and implementation of long-term culture of crops to improve returns.
Scientific study, through cooperation with local agencies and grant funding, to further understand and improve larval and juvenile survival as well as seed survival and recruitment in the wild.
Experimentation with improved culture techniques in the hatchery.
Cooperation with New York State by providing ten percent of production to seed State waters.
Public education through tours of facilities and sites to demonstrate a practical application of science and the importance of shellfish resources.
Educational Programs
Group tours of the Montauk hatchery in April, May and June can be arranged by calling (631) 668-4601. School groups are especially encouraged.
An annual shellfish culture workshop series is open to the public on specified Saturdays from the Spring through the Fall. For more info click here. Please call the hatchery at 631-668-4601 or e- mail JDunne@town.east-hampton.ny.us for dates and times.
Staffers Frank Quevedo and Jennifer Gaites with a tour group from the Montauk School
Director John Aldred teaching workshop attendees about clam spawning
Environmental Benefits
