LINK TO VIDEO & SITE | Oyster Bay is a beautiful, special place. The bay is home to the Baymen, those who rake for shellfish for a living. These men have a job that is hard on the body, sometimes fruitless, and is in jeopardy because of commercial shell fishing. While the company that is being challenged has been around Oyster Bay since 1887, the ways that they have harvest shellfish have changed and now threaten the existence of the shellfish. They use their large boats to dredge the bottom of the bay and bring up shellfish. When dredging occurs the naturally hard, scaly bottom is turned into a loose silty bottom that makes it impossible for oysters and other shellfish to reproduce and live. The men who dig for shellfish by hand may disturb a small area, but they do not go down into the bottom of the bay deep enough to cause long lasting damage. These men's livelihoods are being threatened and they are working to change how shellfish harvesting is done in Oyster Bay and reseed the shellfish population. Billy Joel has been a supporter of the Baymen for years and is involved in their fight for the bay. Take a look at his video (to the left) and then read some more on the site; the information is thorough and the program needs your help. |
We are lucky enough to be able to visit the beautiful North Shore of Long Island whenever we want because my parents and aunt and uncle live there. The past few years we have made our trip for a week at the end of June/beginning of July and are able to see the firework show that Dolan puts on yearly. Since my dad has a boat we take the boat out and anchor just off the tip of where Billy Joel lives and we have a perfect view. Three summers ago he was married on the Fourth so we were treated to music from his party, fireworks from Dolan, and the release of paper lanterns.
1 Comment
Judy
7/15/2017 11:09:46 am
The one good thing about shell fishing is that the company located in Bayville has a "nursery" where eggs are protected and when they hatch they are taken care of until time to put them in "beds" which are cared for by the owners of the company. It is a process . but worthwhile.
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Libby ClemHere you will find my thoughts on various topics. Often cynical, never apologetic, deal with it. Archives
January 2020
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