WORKING TOGETHER TO RESTORE NEW YORK HARBOR ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019
MISSION
To restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives.
A future in which New York Harbor is the center of a rich, diverse, and abundant estuary. The communities that surround this complex ecosystem have helped construct it, and in return benefit from it, with endless opportunities for work, education, and recreation. The harbor is a world-class public space, well used and well cared for — our Commons.
“I LOVE WORK DAYS WITH THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT WHERE I’M ABLE TO EXPAND MY KNOWLEDGE BY DIVING AT NEW OYSTER REEF SITES LIKE BUSH TERMINAL PARK, HEAD OF BAY, AND PIER 101.” LIAM, Professional Diving student at New York Harbor School and Billion Oyster Project Intern (right)
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 2-3
VISION
DEAR FRIENDS & SUPPORTERS, 2019 has been another fantastic year of scaling our impact, refining our programs, and growing our network of schools, restaurants, community organizations and volunteers.
TOP: Pete Malinowski, Executive Director
It’s simple — get as many people as possible involved in restoring one billion oysters to New York Harbor. Educate the city, through its young people, about the importance of the resource and the value of restoring it. Foster awareness and affinity for the natural environment through positive, constructive participation in a largescale restoration project. Use this work to start turning back the clock on the damage we have done and return New York Harbor to its rightful place as an ecological treasure. I hope you will join us on this journey, and enjoy our 2019 Annual Report to learn more about the successes and challenges we face every day as we work to restore New York Harbor.
LIZ ALTER, BOP Board Member and marine evolutionary biologist, speaking with CNN
WITH GRATITUDE, PETE MALINOWSKI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Murray Fisher, Chair • Sophia C. Koven, Vice Chair • L. Mercedes Tech, Treasurer • Brad Burnham, Chair Emeritus • S. Elizabeth Alter, Ph.D. • Robin Bramwell-Stewart • David Cameron • Jayni Chase • Andria Castellanos • Captain John DeCruz • Noah Heller • Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D. • James F. Lima • Carleen LydenWalker • Kate Orff • Alex Pincus • Miles Pincus • Elliot H. Steelman • Shea Thorvaldsen
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 4–5
Our work has become more focused over the last several years and our community has grown. Teachers are downloading Billion Oyster Project STEM lessons and preparing to take their students into the field. Students are walking out of their classrooms, heading down to the water’s edge, and experiencing the animals of New York Harbor for the first time. They are collecting data, beginning to form research questions and preparing to share at our Annual Billion Oyster Project Research Symposium on Governors Island. Volunteers are building oyster cages and hearing how they will be used in our reef sites. Regulators are wrestling with thousands of pages of permit applications — expertly submitted by our staff — and considering what it would mean to have a restored oyster population in New York Harbor. Agency heads and staff members in the Governor’s office are working to understand how to support more oyster restoration throughout the state. Community Scientists are inspecting their Oyster Research Stations and advocating for new reef sites at their waterfront. Public high school students at the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School are working through complex problems that demand collaboration, teamwork and creative problem-solving skills.
At the center of this community is our amazing team. It’s such an honor to go to work every day with this group. The conversations and collaborations that are required to plan and implement our work are fascinating. Especially considering we work in two very challenging systems. New York Harbor with its fast currents, constant vessel traffic, low visibility and complex water quality issues, and the New York City public school system with its 1.1 million students, 1,700 schools and 200,000 teachers — the largest and most diverse public school district in the country. These challenges would be insurmountable if we didn’t have the absolute best team in the world, working on them every day.
“OYSTERS ARE ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS IN THE HARBOR. THEY HELP TO CREATE REEFS AND FILTER WATER... [THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT] IS ALSO A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN THE SENSE THAT WE’RE ENGAGING SCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEACHERS.”
Our success so far... • 13 active oyster reefs (7 acres), 4 floating oyster hubs
• More than 30,000,000 oysters installed in New York City waterways since 2014 • 6,000+ students from across the 5 boroughs monitor oyster and harbor health as part of their STEM education • Nearly 10,000 volunteers have built oyster cages, prepared recycled shell for seeding, sorted and counted baby oysters, and much more
Oysters are reproducing in New York Harbor! From May-October of 2018, Billion Oyster Project and The Nature Conservancy collaborated with students and community scientists to collect and analyze data about the city’s growing oyster population and surrounding ecosystem. Together we learned that oysters are reproducing in New York Harbor! This indicates that local oysters could become a self-sustaining population once again. In the past two years, our community has observed oyster reproduction and recruitment in Soundview and Castle Hill in the Bronx, Coney Island Creek in Brooklyn, and Pier 40 and the West 79th Street Boat Basin in Manhattan. Many of the species spotted during monitoring, including oyster toadfish and striped bass, thrive in reef environments.
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 6–7
• 1.5M lbs of shell diverted from landfills
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Oyster reefs have the power to transform New York Harbor. They filter water, provide habitat for hundreds of marine species, and can help shield NYC shorelines from storm damage. Did you know New York City was once the oyster capital of the world? Meet our 13 reefs across the five boroughs.
1. Bayswater Point State Park 2. Brooklyn Bridge Park 3. Canarsie 4. Coney Island 5. Great Kills Harbor Nursery 6. Governors Island 7. Hudson Reefs 8. Lemon Creek Lagoon Oyster Reef 9. Lemon Creek Lagoon Nursery 10. Living Breakwaters Project 11. Soundview Oyster Restoration Project 12. Sunset Park 13. Wallabout Basin Nursery
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9 COMMUNITY SCIENTIST SHOUT-OUT: John Bradley Bill Chrystal Rob Crafa Ira Gershenhorn
Renee Miller Toby Price Katherine Thompson Susan Urich
A. Urban Assembly New York Harbor School (High School) B. P.S. 59 Harbor View School (Elementary School) C. Rachel Carson High School (High School) D. Central Park East II (Middle School) E. Michael J Petrides School (K-12) F. Hunter’s Point Community Middle School (Middle School) G. St. Clare School (Middle School) H. M.S. 447 The Math & Science Exploratory School (Middle School) I. P.S. 676 The Red Hook Neighborhood School (PreK-5th grade) J. The Earth School (Elementary School) K. WHEELS (High School) L. Waterside Children's Studio School (Elementary School) M. Long Island City High School (High School) N. Riverdale Kingsbridge M.S./H.S. 141 (Middle and High School) O. City Island P.S. 175 (Elementary and Middle school)
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 8–9
We partner with dozens of schools across New York City to get students excited about their environment through STEM curriculum, and out to their waterfront for hands-on learning. Here’s a closer look at a handful of those schools, including our flagship school, the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, on Governors Island.
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CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) PROGRAMS As sophomores, all students enroll in one of seven CTE programs of study, leading to industry certification in marine science or technology. The experience includes a continuum of work-based learning, and Billion Oyster Project provides a real-world context for practicing maritime skills. Freshmen are introduced to various CTE programs via Harbor Class.
The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a maritime high school located on Governors Island, is the flagship school of Billion Oyster Project, and its students take on a leadership role in our work—growing oysters, designing and building oyster reef structures, diving to monitor reefs, operating boats, performing marine biology research, and more.
Billion Oyster Project staff members, or “BOP Professionals,” act as an instructor and advisor to CTE students and lead Billion Oyster Project activities, such as growing oysters in the Aquaculture lab or designing reef structures in Ocean Engineering.
AQUACULTURE
Students work toward understanding the fundamentals of water chemistry, organism biology, business, and marketing. Students grow oysters for Billion Oyster Project.
Billion Oyster Project supports the Harbor School’s seven Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, extracurricular programs and activities, and waterfront operations.
Prepares students for careers as licensed deck crew, and serves as a stepping stone into management and operations positions aboard small passenger vessels and commercial towing units. Students operate the vessels required to build, maintain, and monitor reef sites and floating oyster hubs.
MARINE POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Students develop a clear understanding of the principles and applications of environmental/ marine policy and law, through the study of the maritime industry and oyster restoration. The program teaches students how to communicate the role of citizen engagement in policy making, as well as the roles of community, education, and government in the development and implementation of law and policy in our waterways.
OCEAN ENGINEERING
MARINE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY
Prepares students for careers in building, maintaining and repairing boats, and culminates in an American Boat and Yacht Council’s Marine Systems Technician Certificate. Students put their vessel maintenance skills to use building “oyster cabinets” —the infrastructure for many reefs.
VESSEL OPERATIONS
Introduces students to engineering in an ocean environment. They design, build, and operate Remotely Operated Vehicles that can be used to collect data and monitor oyster reefs. Ocean Engineering students also design the 3D structures used to build reefs.
MARINE BIOLOGY RESEARCH
Students begin their studies by learning the basics of biology, ecology, and oceanography, and finish their senior year having engaged in high-level scientific research with mentor scientists. Students use their research to propose solutions to environmental problems and questions.
Extracurricular and Summer Programs AQUAPONICS CLUB • BOATBUILDING CLUB • HARBOR ANGLERS FISHING CLUB • HARBOR CORPS • HARBOR SEALS CITIZEN SCIENCE • INDOCK • ROWING • SAILING • WATERFRONT CLUB • WELDING CLUB
“Working with the Billion Oyster Project has given me a lot of field experience, and allowed me to get to know different types of people. It was a great opportunity to learn professionalism and work ethic.”
DAYANARA, Marine biology student at the Harbor School and BOP intern
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 10–11
The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School
PROFESSIONAL DIVING
Is the only program of its kind in the United States, training public high-school students as effective scientific SCUBA divers and putting them to work underwater on real environmental restoration projects. Professional Diving students can graduate to careers in the commercial and recreational diving industries and work directly with Billion Oyster Project as they dive to install and inspect reef structures and oysters.
2018–2019 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS
11TH HOUR RACING joined the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in confirming its commitment to support Billion Oyster Project‘s reef restoration and public education programs at the Bush Terminal Park lagoons. Billion Oyster Project will work with students of the New York Harbor School to spawn and grow oysters in the hatchery, build the reef, and monitor its growth. This funding will also help Billion Oyster Project’s work to collect oyster shells from restaurants to use as setting substrate for the reef.
HARBOR SCHOOL STUDENTS from Professional Diving, Vessel Operations, and Ocean Engineering traveled to Fishers Island, New York, in June. This annual trip, funded by Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation, allows for additional CTE practice outside of NYC. 22 HARBOR SCHOOL INTERNS, representing all seven career and technical education programs, worked with Billion Oyster Project this summer.
75+ RESTAURANTS DONATED 371,741 POUNDS OF SHELL, through our Shell Collection Program, operated by The Lobster Place. This shell becomes the foundation of our oyster reefs.
PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS This year we announced an exciting partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts in order to expand shell recycling and oyster reef restoration areas in New York State waters. By combining our experience restoring oysters in challenging environments with Pew’s capacity to convene experts and develop comprehensive solutions, we look forward to boosting state-wide efforts.
“Growing up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, I was told that the Harbor is dirty and to stay away from the water. Working with the Billion Oyster Project has given me the opportunity to see organisms that I never knew existed here in New York Harbor.” DEANNA, Professional Diving student at the Harbor School and BOP intern
4 RUNNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE NYC MARATHON FOR BOP Emma Forster, Jess McGlinchey, Chioke Nassor, and Frank Schwall ran 26.2 miles for BOP, thanks to support from the Marta Heflin Foundation.
VOLUNTEERS ON THE ISLAND Hundreds of volunteers have visited Governors Island to help Billion Oyster Project build oyster cages, prepare recycled shell for seeding, sort and count baby oysters, and more.
WE REACHED THE 1.5 MILLION POUNDS OF SHELL MARK! Special thanks to the 75+ NYC restaurants who donate their oyster shells every day to help restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor.
AQUACULTURE STUDENTS from the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School grew more than two million oysters in the hatchery on Governors Island.
6 RESEARCH ASSOCIATE TECHNICIANS helped with restoration, marine science, conservation, public engagement, philanthropy, communications, and operations.
“As a Research Associate Technician you get to explore all the different departments of the Billion Oyster Project. I love being on boats, pulling up oyster crates, measuring oyster growth and animals inhabiting those crates. You really see the project happening right in front of your eyes!” ISA, Research Associate Technician (far left)
10 DIVING STUDENTS TRAVELED TO THE BAHAMAS TO DEEPEN THEIR DIVING SKILLS. Eight sophomores and two seniors — including one alumnus who has reached divemaster status — participated in more than 15 dives over five days. All the divers returned to NY with PADI Advanced Open Water and AWARE Fish Identification certifications.
200+ ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENTISTS from all five New York City boroughs presented their findings at Billion Oyster Project’s 5th Annual Research Symposium, made possible by the Students Rebuild Ocean Challenge.
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 12–13
SOUNDVIEW REEFS Governor Cuomo announced $1.4 Million in funding for the Soundview Park Oyster Habitat Restoration Project at the mouth of the Bronx River. With the help of our partners the project will add five acres of oyster reefs to New York Harbor.
300+ NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL STUDENTS designed and welded oyster reef structures, grew oysters in our Governors Island hatchery, dove in the Harbor, drove boats, argued for marine policies, and performed marine biology research.
“NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET TO SAY THAT THEIR FIRST JOB WAS SCUBA DIVING FOR A CAUSE LIKE THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT. THROUGH THIS WORK I’VE LEARNED THAT OYSTERS ARE VITAL TO A WELL FUNCTIONING ECOSYSTEM — ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK HARBOR.”
YOUNG LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Our young leadership committee, formally launched in June 2019, was created to further BOP’s mission by engaging young professionals: the next generation of advocates, ecologists, and philanthropists alike. So far, the group is 15 members strong and excited to expand.
TAKE BACK THE HARBOR In February 2019, the Discovery film, Take Back the Harbor — featuring Harbor School students, — won “Best WILD NY Film”
AXEL, Professional Diving student at the Harbor School and BOP intern
MADI, Young Leadership Committee
SUNSET SPARK STUDENTS As part of an after school program organized by Billion Oyster Project, Sunset Spark, Brooklyn Boatworks, and Industry City, and funded by the Greve Foundation and the Heckscher Foundation for Children, the students from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, built their very own boat — or dory. In mid-June, this enthusiastic group of student boat builders launched their new dory, Guacamole, into the calm waters of Bush Terminal Park.
OYSTER RESEARCH STATION TRAINING prepares teachers and citizen scientists to care for a local Oyster Research Station (ORS) provided by Billion Oyster Project. The cage, that participants receive upon completion of their training, is a home for oysters in the Harbor.
“BEING INVOLVED WITH BOP HAS BEEN SUCH A FUN WAY TO EXPAND MY PRE-K STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF THE SYSTEMS SURROUNDING THEIR LOCAL WATERFRONT THAT HAVE AN OBSERVABLE EFFECT ON THEIR LIVES. OUR INVOLVEMENT HAS BROUGHT UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER, POLLUTION, PLASTIC, GARBAGE, AND THE ROLE OF MARINE ANIMALS AND PLANTS.” NORA, science teacher at Red Hook Playgroup (students pictured left)
Tunicate
Oyster Toadfish
Skillet Fish
Common Crab
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK HARBOR This oyster toad fish, common crab, and Orange Sheath tunicate (animals that look like flowers), are just some of the many marine animals that Billion Oyster Project staff and students observed near oyster reefs this year.
BACK TO THE FUTURE In February, we hosted an exclusive chef collaboration dinner at Delmonico’s Restaurant for 100 guests. This culinary experience featured chefs from Per Se, Delmonico’s, Lighthouse, and Cull & Pistol. We also welcomed Mark Kurlansky, author of The Big Oyster, as our guest speaker.
“One thing I know about oysters is that they can create reefs. What I liked about [visiting] the Coney Island Reef was touching them and holding them in my hand. That was my first time holding oysters. I help my waterway by making sure no one throws in trash and if they do it’s my responsibility to pick it up.” DIANA, 5th grade student at P.S. 90
CIT CARES MONTH In June, CIT Group carried out its annual employee volunteer initiative on three charities. Billion Oyster Project was grateful to have the support of CIT as a presenting sponsor of the 2019 Billion Oyster Party, and to be chosen as one of the benefiting causes of CIT Cares Month, which helped us clean and bag 10,000 oyster shells!
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 14–15
THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT COMMUNITY
“As the world watches the climate conversation unfold, I am so grateful to be part of such a proactive group that works to make a difference where and when it really matters. Greta Thunberg would be proud!”
Mark Kurlansky, Author of The Big Oyster
PARTNER PROJECT PROFILE Oyster reefs in the Hudson River
In Summer 2018, 422 Billion Oyster Project (BOP) reef structures and 881 reef balls were deployed across five acres of the Hudson River by marine contractors from the NY Thruway Authority as part of a mitigation project for the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The reef structures, called “gabions”, were designed, welded, and assembled, by Harbor School students and staff, Billion Oyster Project team members, and volunteers. Unlike many of our projects, which involve restoring live oysters as spat on shell, the gabions were filled with blank shell reclaimed from NYC restaurants — knowing that a solid, wild population of oysters exists in this area of the Harbor. In fall of 2019, the Hudson River Foundation and BOP pulled up the gabions for the first time since deployment to see if there was settlement. To our excitement, we saw live oysters of various sizes settled on the shells — indicating multiple spawns and an effective reef structure design for keeping the shell and oysters out of the muddy Harbor bottom. HRF is now analyzing the data as the research lead and we look forward to sharing the results!
Learn more about the design of these gabions at bit.ly/hudson-gabions
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 14–15 16–17
“Before the 20th century, when people thought of New York, they thought of oysters. This is what New York was to the world—a great oceangoing port where people ate succulent local oysters from their harbor. Visitors looked forward to trying them. New Yorkers ate them constantly. They also sold them by the millions.”
THANK YOU TO OUR 2018–2019 SUPPORTERS
WITH THANKS TO
Individual Supporters Our generous supporters make it possible for Billion Oyster Project to exist. Thank you to the individuals and organizations who invest in our work. $25,000+
Mitra and Daniel O’Neill
$10,000+
Jeanne Donovan Fisher Andrew Zacks
Cynthia and John Deermount Sandy and Rossie Fisher Mitchell and Jill Friedman Robert Kissane Genevieve and Rob Lynch Agnes Peelle Joseph Slakas and Barbara Hart Bill Wachtel
$2,500–$4,999
Thank you to our BOP board members for 100% participation in board giving. The total amount contributed by the board in Fiscal Year 2019 was $344,960
Richard and Lisa Cashin Jim Dooling Lawrence Duffy Austin and Gwen Fragomen Edward and Karen Fraioli Scott Fuller The Lieberman Family Chandler Reedy Samuel Seymour Andrew Tucker
$1,000–$2,499
Chris Arcamone Paul Balser Robert Bollman Daniella Botterbusch and James Cole George Bowen Sally and Chuck Carpenter Amy Chang Mark Clark Priscilla Clements
Scott Trachsel Nick Wachtel John Wang Robert Watt Michael and Jenny Weisburger Lissa Wolfe Jiannan Wu
$500—$999
Joshua Alpern John and Renee Arntzen Natasha Arreglado Susan and Frederic Billings III James G. Blaine Pam Brocious Rhys Brooks James Cabaniss Leigh Carter Virginia Carter Franklin Chung Martha and John Connell Chris Copeland Maura Craven Brian Delaney Diana Deldeo Douglas Douty Brendan Doyle Andrew and Jessie Dudley Stephanie and Nathan Dudley Hugh Evans Lauren Flejzor Ally Forstmann Gavin Fraser Kathleen and Josh Gladstone Cara Greenberg Bruce Gross Arnav Guleria Henry Hagar Arthur and Alison Hall Rosemarie Hamlin Dixon and Janet Harvey Matthew Heinz Lucinda Herrick Patricia Hoffman Adam Jacobson John Kuehn and Elaine Crowley David Kaneshiro Joseph Kerrey and Sarah Paley Richard Kite Karen Klopp
Kristyn Kohut Virginia Lawrence Melanie Lowenberger Eric and Jane Luce Nell Manning John Marchand Daniel McDonald Patrick R. McElduff Linda Mevorach Adrienne Miller Stephen Milliken Sarah Morris Richard Murdock Grant Murray John Needham Erica Neiges William Nugent Bryce O’Brien Charles Peck Nick Pelletier Elise Pettus Jon Pollack Alama Qualli Joshua Rechnitz Kate and Scott Reid Richard Reisert Emma Riccardi Michael and Alison Rothschild Andrew Rubin Stephen Rupp Todd Sacktor Michael Santini Seth Shaw Gregory Spaulding Steven Spencer Cas and Alex Stachelberg Cathi Swett Amanda Viscelli Madeline Wachtel Emilia Wiles Cory Wingeter Annie Zabar Theresa Ziegler Michael Zipper
$250–$499
Kat Abbott Crysta Abell Paul Abueg and Vicky Maronilla Ryan Amos Nancy Ankner Holley Atkinson Carol Barbera Amanda Barstow Gary Bartow Bradford Behrins Bart Birk Joshua Bloomgarden Natalie Bocock Turnage Susan Borschel Ambriel Bostic Collis Boyce Mike Brancati Arthur and Barbara Bratone Laurie and Paul Bratone Jordan Breighner Miguel Brion Heather and David Burnham Katie Burns-Amrheim Heather Rae Byer Jeff Carey Liza and Andrew Carpenter Paolo Cassina Marta Castaing David Chang Kyung Cho Chris Dameron Anne Davey Jonathan Dickinson Robert Dimatteo Joelle Downes Dena Driver Kerry Dunn Louise Eastman Takuji Ekuni Douglas Ellenoff Daniel Emerson Amy Farber Matthew and Laura Feil
Thank you to Robina Taliaferrow for her generous donation of Shelly, a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, to Billion Oyster Project’s fleet of vehicles and vessels.
Orrin Feingold Cat Fitzgerald Courtney Flood Spencer Foley Emma Forster Peter Frews Evan Friedman James Gaston Mark Germann Sarah Greenwald John Griffin Cate Hagarty Cynthia and Matthew Haiken Richard and Linda Halluska Dan and Christina Halpern Ashley Hamilton Jane Hammerslough Jonathan Handler Sarah Hartman Dennis Hedgecock Lisa Hickey Robert Holdom James Holley Susan Horowitz Brad Howe Simone Hoyte Deborah Hrbek Angela Hunter Jeff Hunter Chris Huntington Liana Huth Adam Isserlis Hillary Jay Fitzhugh Karol Susan Kelly Heather Ketcham Robert King and Patricia Rossi Antonia Koleva Aaron Kornbluth Supriya Kotagal Ruth Kyle Diane LaFemina Rachel Landon John Lavelle Katherine Lee Joe Levine Christina Lewis Jason Lichti William Lienhard
Calvin Lim Nicole Lio Lola Loening Christen Loper Moe Magali Jackleen Marji Meredith Massey John McCall David McGilvray Michelle McGinniss Morteza Meftah Lizanne Merrill Emilio Meyo Amy Miller Manuel Miranda Gregory Morrison Katie Mosher Jesse Mosier Ian Murphy Lukas Musher Hunter Nadler Maridi Nalle Christina Nemr Heather Nesle Gabriel Newman Jason Novatt Mary O’Connell Nicole Okumu Jono Oliver Scott and Pamela Ollendorf Mauricio Orantes Brian Owens Susan Panepento John Panichi Jon Pastel Audra and Daniel Paterna Nancy Pearson Bud and Toni Perrone Emily Phillips Julie Pitman Michael Pitman Joanne Powell Dina Pugh Bryan Rackley Ilona Rand Joseph Randazzo Sheila Raymundo Will Raynolds Rich Resner
Barbara Rich Amanda and Richard Riegel Matthew Rigby Michael Rigsby Robin and Matthew Rixon Jason Roelke Jessica Romero Chris Ronis Rowie Samaco Heidi Sandquist Erica Schlaug Steve Schleider Petra Schmidt Brandon Schubert Rich Schwab Lori Beth Schwartz Daniel Seidler Jean Sharkey Jeffrey Sharpe Todd Shaw John Sheehan Ben Shelton Robyn Silvestri Terryl Simeina Harry Simino Melissa Slattery Darcy Snodgrass Kent Spellman Irini Stamatiou Brent Stehmer Carter Strickland and Nicole Gueron Celeste Suggs and Joel Zackin Jonathan Sumber Ed Swenson and Liz Walker Margaret Taggart Richard Tang Nellwyn Thomas Richard Thompson Emanuel Valentin Gerald Valgora Hendrik F. van Hemmen Linda Varoli Jiffy Vermylen Cyrill Villemin Jessie Wachtel Isabel Wacker John Walsh Arthur Wang
Erin Weibel Yaron Werber Rachel White Philip Whitney Stephanie Whitten Patrick Wiles Faith Yeager William Yeiser Jeffrey Younger We apologize for any inadvertent omissions.
WITH THANKS TO
Shell Collection Restaurant Partners BOP MEMBERSHIP RESTAURANTS
These local restaurant partners participate in our membership program, offering oyster vouchers to our members! Aquagrill Canal Street Oyster* Crave Fishbar Midtown* Crave Fishbar Upper West Side* Cull & Pistol* Docks Oyster Bar* The Eastpole* Eastpole Fish Bar* Eataly Flatiron French Louie The Fulton Grand Banks* Grand Central Oyster Bar Greenpoint Fish & Lobster* Island Oyster* Jams at 1 Hotel Central Park Lighthouse* The Lobster Place* M. Wells* Oceana* The Oyster House at Pier A* Pilot* Riverpark The Smith East Village The Hull The Smith Lincoln Square The Smith Nomad Zadies Oyster Room*
Atlantic Grill* Bar Belly Bar Uni Barn Joo Blue Fin* Blue Ribbon Brooklyn Blue Water Grill Brooklyn Crab* Brooklyn Label Brooklyn Oyster Party* Century Association Chez Moi The Clam Claudette Claw Daddy’s Lower East Side* Claw Daddy’s Brooklyn Dead Rabbit Delmonico’s* Fish Five Leaves Gramercy Tavern* Grand Army Bar* Grey Lady Jack the Horse Tavern Jeffrey’s Grocery John Dory Oyster Bar Lamia’s Fish Market Le District Legasea
Maison Premiere Mandarin Oriental Marea Mayanoki* Mercer Kitchen* Mermaid Inn Upper West Side Mermaid Oyster Bar Midnights* Olmsted Osamil The Osprey P.J. Clarke’s Lincoln Square P.J. Clarke’s Third Avenue P.J. Clarke’s Battery Park City Per Se* Raoul’s Roxy Bar Seamore’s Chelsea* Seamore’s Nolita Seamore’s on Ice Sea Fire Grill Sea Wolf Sel Rrose Simon & the Whale* Smoking Monkey Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill Union Square Cafe *Also involved in BOP events
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 18–19
$5,000–$9,999
Michael Cohen Carter and Stephanie Craft David Crofton and Dawn Casale Michael Cuomo Sean Dalton Delphine and Allen Damon Michael Detmer Joseph Donovan Helena Durst Suzanne Dvells Nat Farnham Rafael Fogel Amelia Gary Andrew Gasper Gregory Gerard Peter Ghazzawi Paul Goodman James Greenbaum and Jane Cooper Kevin Gurl Scott Hand Elizabeth Hunter Ronald Janis and Dr. Susan Spear Jeffrey Joseph Linda Keefe Philip Kirstein Thomas Kligerman Janet and Dennis Lee Jeffrey Levine Kevin Livingston George Loening Falisha Mamdani Anthony Martignetti John Migotsky Donna Murray Matthew Neiger Philip Norman Jin Park Doug Parker Pamela Peterson Andrew Pitts Emily Portnoy Denise Riordan-Larkin Chris Schumacher Carla Shen Larry Slaughter Hannah Swett Brooks Tietjen Anne Toomey
WITH THANKS TO OUR
Institutional and Corporate Supporters 11th Hour Racing Align American Institute of Marine Underwriters Aon API Arthur Vining Davis Foundation Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bar Belly Bar Uni Bezos Family Foundation BlackRock, Inc. Bloomberg Blue Point Brewing BMO Capital Bridgepoint Brillo-Sonnino Family Foundation Brooke Kanani LLC Brookfield Properties
Empire Dragon Boat Team Erie Basin Marine Associates Fishers Island Oyster Farm Flora Family Foundation French Louie Frying Pan Inc. Gerson Family Foundation Goldman Sachs Gramercy Property Trust Grand Banks Grey Lady Guardian Gueron-Strickland Family Fund Hairstory Hampton Jitney
McAllister Towing and Transportation Company Inc McNeel Family Fund Mellam Family Foundation Messing Family Charitable Foundation Midnights Moody’s Mook Sea Farm Moore Charitable Foundation Munich RE National Science Foundation New York Cruise Lines, Inc. New York Life New York Shipping Association New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Royal Bank of Canada
United Federation of Teachers
Salesforce Foundation
United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Association
Sandpiper Fund SCAPE / Landscape Architecture PLLC Seamore’s Seastreak SHoP Architects Simons Foundation Sotheby’s Stop & Store Charitable Fund TABASCO® Brand The Andrew K. Dwyer Foundation The Clam The Harrison Foundation The Henry L and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
HDR
New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery
Heckscher Foundation for Children
Nomura
Hornblower Cruises & Events
Northfield Bank Foundation
The Jerome & Dolores Gewirtz Charitable Trust
Hudson River Foundation
NY Adventure Club
The Leo S. Walsh Foundation
In the Raw/Cumberland Packing Corp.
NYC Department of Education
The Lobster Place/Cull & Pistol
Jewish Communal Fund
NYC Department of Environmental Protection
The Marine Society of the City of New York
NYC Economic Development Corporation
The McCance Foundation
The Holly and Bradford Swett Charitable Foundation Trust
Building Conservation Trust
John K. and Elizabeth W. Knorr Charitable Foundation
Capalino & Co.
Jones Trading LLC
NY Open Water
The Osprey at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Casa Building Materials
Joseph and Katherine Macari Foundation
OneBeacon Insurance Group
The Overbrook Foundation
CDP
Kamco
OpenTable
The Pew Charitable Trusts
CIT Bank
Landry’s Restaurants
Orange County Community Foundation
The PHFFoundation Inc.
Citi Group
Le Gourmet
Pace University
Classic Harbor Line
Letters Live Limited
P.J. Clarke’s
The Ramiro G. Peru Charitable Fund of the Ayco Charitable Foundation
CMA Education Foundation
Lighthouse
CodeGreen
Lily Auchincloss Foundation
Persak & Wurmfeld Yacht Design Naval Architecture
Con Edison
M. Wells
Crave Fishbar
M.S. 447 Math & Science Exploratory School
D’Onofrio General Contractors Corp. DeLaCour Family Foundation Dell Corporation Dynasty Financial Partners Eataly Eda H Cabaniss Charitable Lead Unitrust
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Proud Pour PSP Investments
Manhattan Borough President’s Office
QBE Insurance Group Limited
Mara Hoffman Inc
Randolph Beer
Marders
Rechler Philanthropy
Mark and Amy Tercek Foundation
Reverb
Marta Heflin Foundation
Riverkeeper
Massie Scott Fund
Rockefeller Group International Inc.
The River Project The Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation
Brooklyn Science and Engineering Academy Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School
Urban Oyster, Inc.
Central Park East II
van Beuren Charitable Foundation
City As School
Water Quality Insurance Syndicate
College Point Collaborative Middle School 379
Watts and Flux
Hebrew language Academy
John Dewey High School
P.S. 021 Edward Hart
Red Hook Playgroup
Hoboken Middle School
La Petite Colline
P.S. 041 Francis White
School for Environmental Citizenship
Hunter’s Point Community Middle School
Leaders High School
P.S. 097 Forest Park
School of the Future (M413)
Hyde Leadership Charter High School
Leman Manhattan Prep School
P.S. 102 The Bayview
School of the Future Brooklyn
I.S 7
Long Island City High School
P.S. 104 The Bays Water
P.S. 288 Shirley Tanyhill
I.S 75
Lower Manhattan Community Middle School
P.S. 105 The Bay School
St. Clare’s School
P.S. 151 Lyndon B. Johnson
Stuyvesant High School
P.S. 164 Caesar Rodney
Sunset Park Prep - M.S. 821
P.S. 206 Joseph F Lamb
Susan E. Wagner High School
P.S. 21 Margaret Emery-Elm Park
The 47 American Sign Language & English Lower School
Community Leaders High School
I.S. 024 Myra S. Barnes
Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences
I.S. 034 Tottenville I.S. 051 Edwin Markham
Curtis High School
I.S. 49 Berta A. Dreyfus
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Information Technology High School
Expeditionary Learning School for Community Leaders
Institute for Collaborative Education (ICE)
Zadie’s Oyster Room
Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School
I.S. 49
New York City Council
George Westinghouse CTE High School
Council Member Joseph Borelli
Greene Hill School
Council Member Margaret S. Chin
Harvest Collegiate High School
Council Member Costa Constantinides
Hawtree Creek Middle School
Weber Shandwick Wells Fargo WeWork William Fèvre Winky Foundation WWW Foundation
Council Member Daniel Dromm
International School for Liberal Arts I.S. 62
M.S. 131 M.S. 379Q Manhattan School for Career Development Monsignor Clancy High M.S. 324 M.S. 447 M.S. 88
P.S. 811 Mickey Mantle School Pan American International High School Parkside Preparatory Academy Pelham Prep Academy
New Dorp High School
Poly Prep Country Day School P.S. 3 The John Melser Charrette School
J.H.S. 223 The Montauk
New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School
P.S. 506
J.H.S. 234 Arthur W. Cunningham
Orchard Collegiate Academy
P.S. 59 The Harbor View School
I.S. 259
The Berkeley Carroll School The Blue School The Calhoun School The Chapin School The Christa McAuliffe School\I.S. 187 The Dalton School The Earth School The Greene Hill School The Hewitt School
Council Speaker Corey Johnson
The Little Red School
Council Member Paul Vallone
The Michael J. Petrides School The Packer Collegiate Institute
WITH THANKS TO OUR
The Quad Preparatory School
BOP Schools
The Town School
This list includes schools involved in the 2018-19 school year. Qualifying activities include Billion Oyster Project trainings, Days of Service, Governors Island visits, the Annual BOP Symposium or data collection.
The Winchendon School - Brooklyn Tottenville High School University Neighborhood Middle School Urban Assembly Maker Academy Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts
M.S. 297 - 75 Morton A. Fantis Parochial School
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School
The Warburg Pincus Foundation
Academy of Arts and Letters
Waterside Children’s Studio School
The William & Mary Greve Foundation
AltSchool Union Square
Thompson Family Foundation
Avenues The World School
West End Secondary School Learning School
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
British International School
TMS Waterfront
Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice
Trevcon Construction Co., Inc. Two Trees UBS
Williamsburg Preparatory School Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn Young Women’s Leadership School, Astoria
Brooklyn Friends School Brooklyn New School Brooklyn School of Inquiry
Billion Oyster Project staff welcome 22 Harbor School interns with an icebreaker near Pier 101 on Governors Island.
We apologize for any inadvertent omissions.
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 20–21 18–19
Barclays Capital
Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation
Left: Billion Oyster Project and our Soundview Reefs project partners (Rocking the Boat, NYC Parks, Hudson River Foundation, Bronx River Alliance, and NY/ NJ Baykeeper) came together in summer 2019 to install two million oysters into a nursery at SUNY Maritime College in preparation for future restoration work in Soundview Park in the Bronx. Community Education Council District 15 Coney Island Beautifucation Project
Community Partners
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Brooklyn Children’s Museum/SPARK
We are so grateful to the following community partners for their shared commitment to serving New York Harbor and its surrounding communities.
Brooklyn College Brooklyn Community Board 13
South Street Seaport Museum
National Parks Service
St. Francis College
New York Academy of Sciences
Staten Island Borough President’s Office
New York Aquarium
Staten Island Museum
New York Historical Society
Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie
New York Restoration Project
Sunset Spark
New York Sea Grant
SUNY Maritime College
New York State Assembly
SUNY Maritime Waterfront Center
New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Superhero Clubhouse
Coney Island Cub Scouts
New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA)
Coney Island Girl Scouts
Newtown Creek Alliance
Coney Island History Project
North Brooklyn Boat Club
Cornell Cooperative Extension
NRG Energy
Cultural Divers
NY Performance Standards Consortium
CUNY York College
NY/NJ Baykeeper
Earth Matter
NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Expeditionary Learning
NYC Department of Sanitation
Exxon Mobil
NYC Hospitality Alliance
Food Film Festival
NYC Outward Bound
Fresh Creek Civic Association
Office of Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park
Office of Senator Roxanne J. Persaud
Brooklyn Community Board 18
Friends of Kaiser Park / Coney Island Generation Gap
Brooklyn Community Board 2
Guardians of Flushing Bay
Olympia Oyster Bar
Brooklyn Community Board 7
Harbor Lab
Partnerships for Parks
American Littoral Society
Brooklyn Historical Society
Hudson River Foundation
Princess Bay Boatmen’s Association
American Museum of Natural History
Brooklyn Marine STEM Education Alliance (BMSEA)
Hudson River Park Trust
P.S. 59 The Harbor View School
Industry City
Public Agenda
Baruch College
Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
Raaka Chocolate
Battery Park Conservancy
Bungalow Bar
Inwood Country Club
Reverb
Baylander
Canarsie Courier
Jamaica Bay ECO-Watchers
Richmond County Yacht Club
Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy
Riverkeeper Saltaire’s Oyster Bar and Fish House
Back to the Lab
BioBoat
Canarsie Education Council District 18
Biobus
Center for Family Life
Bronx River Alliance
City Parks Foundation
Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay
Brooklyn Barge
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
London Lennies
Brooklyn Boatworks
Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Long Island City Community Boathouse
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Lower East Side Ecology Center
Office of Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Surf Rider SWIM Coalition The Nature Conservancy The Urban Assembly The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy Town of Hempstead Trademark Taste & Grind Trust for Governors Island Urban Park Rangers Wagner College Waterfront Alliance Waterkeeper Alliance West End Secondary School
SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO PRO-BONO COUNSEL: Duane Morris Lawyers Alliance for New York Linklaters Morrison Foerster
“THE CORE OF ALL OF THIS WORK IS OUR FANTASTIC TEAM. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO GET TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH 30 OF THE SMARTEST, HARDESTWORKING, AND MOST PASSIONATE PEOPLE I’VE EVER MET.”
Rocking the Boat Sandy Ground Scape Studio Sebago Canoe Club Solar One
PETE MALINOWSKI, Executive Director
OUR CREW Pete Malinowski Executive Director
Montana Jernigan Donor Relations Manager
Madeline Wachtel Deputy Director
Kathryn Robling Volunteer Coordinator
BOP Professionals
Finance and Operations
Industry professionals mentor students alongside New York Harbor School faculty.
Vicky Maronilla Director of Finance & Administration
Zoë Greenberg BOP Professional Team Lead and Dive Safety Officer
Theresa Case Bandouveris Office and IT Manager
Liz Burmester Staff Scientist
Mari-len Clemente Accountant
Luis Melendez Assistant Waterfront Director (through August 2019) Rebecca Resner Hatchery Manager JonPaul Turner Mechanical Engineer Development, Partnerships, and Communications Laurie Bratone Director of Development Jennifer Ballesteros Communications Manager (through March 2019) Charlotte Boesch Shell Collection Program Manager Matthew Haiken Institutional Funding Officer Helene Hetrick Communications Manager
Education & Outreach Ann Fraioli Director of Education
Agata Poniatowski Education Outreach Coordinator Robina Taliaferrow Assistant Director of Education & Outreach Restoration Katie Mosher Director of Restoration Johnny Anderson Fabrication Technician Danielle Bissett Senior Project Manager Tatiana Castro Restoration Field Coordinator Ryan Morrison Restoration Project Manager
Rob Buchanan Field Science & Community Hub Specialist
Juan Carlos Pareja Hatchery & Field Technician (through August 2019)
Blyss Buitrago Public Engagement Manager (through January 2019)
Tanasia Swift Community Reefs Regional Manager
Mike Cohen Partnership Manager Moreno Di Marco Education Grants Project Manager Heather Flanagan Technical Product Manager (through May 2019) Annie Lederberg Curriculum & Teaching Specialist
CREDITS Thank you to all who have contributed photography to this report: Agata Poniatowski (cover) Be the Change Production Katie Orlinsky for The Pew Charitable Trusts Michael McLaughlin for Tea & Water Pictures Mary Conlon Rosie Cohe
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 22–23
WITH THANKS TO
Millennium Development
ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS
BILLION OYSTER PARTY On May 9, 20+ top New York City restaurants and 50+ sustainable oyster farms from across the nation joined Billion Oyster Project to offer oyster sampling, bites from master chefs, premium beverage pairings, and an oyster-farmer vs. chefs All Star Shucking Championship. This year, we welcomed more than 1,200 guests, and the net proceeds from the BOP party were over $370K!
Kilisut Harbor Shellfish Little Creek Oysters Louisiana Oyster Co. Lucky 13 Oysters Maris Stella Farms Matunuck Oyster Farm Montauk Shellfish Company Mook Sea Farms Nevor Shellfish Farm Niantic Bay Shellfish Nonesuch Oysters Oyster Pond Shellfish Co. Pacific Seafood Pelican Oyster Co. Rappahannock Oyster Co. Real Oyster Cult Stella Mar Oyster Co. Stormy Bay Oysters Taylor Shellfish Farms Thatch Island Farms Watch Hill Oysters Wellfleet Shellfish Co. West Robins Oyster Co. Violet Cove Oysters Yennicott Oysters LLC West Passage Oyster Co.
Manhattan recognized the achievements of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School and its students. Proceeds will support the School’s seven CTE programs for the 2019–20 school year. At the event, an official MOU was signed by NYCDOE Executive Superintendent Recy Dunn to formally memorialize the work between Billion Oyster Project and the Harbor School!
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 24–25
American Mussel Harvesters Aquacultural Research Co. Ballard Fish & Oyster Company Sloop Point Oyster Farms Maxwell Shellfish 40 North Oyster Farms Laughing Gull Oysters Barnegat Oyster Collective Barrier Island Oyster Co. Baywater Shellfish Blue Island Oyster Co Cape Cod Oyster Co. Cape May Salt Oyster Co. Capital Oyster Chelsea Farms Copps Island Oysters Cuttyhunk Shellfish East Beach Oyster Co. Effingham Oysters Inc. Ero’s Oyster Fishers Island Oyster Farm Great Gun Shellfish Farm Hama Hama Co. Hog Island Oyster Co, Inc. Hollywood Oyster Company Island Creek Oysters
HARBOR UP! CELEBRATION AT THE OYSTER HOUSE AT PIER A This mid-September celebration at the southern tip of
FINANCIALS FY2019
Income: $3,863,002
Expenses: $3,812,663 BILLION OYSTER PROJECT • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 • 26–27
14%
26%
FUNDRAISING
FOUNDATION
14% 18%
44%
INDIVIDUAL
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
11%
MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL
71% PROGRAM SERVICE
CORPORATE
The NYS bill A655/S4718 would give a tax credit to New York State restaurants that donate used oyster shells for oyster reef restoration. Reclaimed shell forms the basis for our oyster reefs and creates habitat for young oysters and hundreds of species in New York Harbor. We are thankful for the students who got this bill off the ground, and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and Senator Jen Metzger for co-sponsoring the bill.
OTHER
“To us, this bill is an opportunity to get involved in our local government and gain experience in the political world while developing an understanding of the environment around us. It’s a project that we’ve been working on for a while and we have learned so much from the Billion Oyster Project! Taken from financial statements from fiscal year 2019 beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019
ELIZABETH and ALI, West End Secondary School students
GET INVOLVED DONATE
Help us continue our oyster reef restoration and education programs in NYC schools. Visit bit.ly/bopgive
VOLUNTEER
There are many opportunities to lend a hand — at our headquarters on Governors Island or at a Community Oyster Reef near you. Sign up for our e-newsletter at bit.ly/bopnews.
BRING OYSTERS TO YOUR SCHOOL
Our hands-on STEM Curriculum is open to educators across New York City. Email educate@nyharbor.org to learn more about becoming a BOP School. Teachers can also register for Billion Oyster Project professional learning opportunities.
BECOME A NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL STUDENT
The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School welcomes high school students interested in maritime careers. Contact educate@nyharbor.org.
BECOME A MEMBER
Members enjoy vouchers for complimentary oysters at our restaurant partners, invitations to members-only events, an exclusive behind-thescenes look at NYC oyster reef restoration, and more. Visit bop.nyc/ member to become a BOP member today!
DIVERT SHELLS FROM THE LANDFILL
If you are affiliated with a restaurant interested in reducing food waste by donating shells to Billion Oyster Project, learn about our Shell Collection Program at bit.ly/gotshells.
ATTEND A BILLION OYSTER PROJECT EVENT
Special events like Oyster Socials provide opportunities for sampling oysters paired with beverages, and mingling with fellow Billion Oyster Project community members — at charming spots across the city.
GOVERNORS ISLAND 10 SOUTH STREET, SLIP 7 NEW YORK, NY 10004
BOP.NYC
@BillionOyster
@BillionOysterProject