The Changing Landscape of New York Harbor
1600s
220,000 acres of oyster reefs.
Whales, dolphins, seals, seahorses, herring, striped bass, and hundreds of other species in the Harbor enjoy the benefits of the oyster reefs — an ecosystem that had already sustained the local Lenape people for generations.
At this point in time, New York Harbor was one of the most diverse and dynamic environments on the planet.
1715
New Yorkers of all socioeconomic classes are eating oysters, and lots of them. This insatiable demand leads to a conservation law,
“An Act for Preserving of Oysters”
that bans harvesting from New York City oyster reefs in the spring and summer. This temporary break allows the wild oyster population to replenish itself.
“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.”
1807
Legislation passed in 1715 to promote the sustainable use of oyster reefs is suspended.
1833
Sandy Ground is founded by free African Americans shortly after the abolition of slavery in New York State. Many of the settlers, return from Maryland and Virginia on the oyster boats (sloops).
The oyster captains are looking for experienced workers to help maintain the oyster beds on Staten Island, and the oystermen are looking to work free of restrictive regulations. It’s the perfect fit that becomes instrumental in establishing the Oyster trade on Staten Island until the early 20th century.
1849
Pollutants of many types are dumped in the water. The city starts systematically building sewers that connect to New York Harbor through a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system. This system, which is still in place today, regularly dumps raw, untreated sewage into the harbor.
1906
New York Harbor is nearly lifeless due to pollution and overharvesting. It comes to be associated with filth and disease.
1927
The last commercial oyster bed in New York City closes.
1972
The Clean Water Act prohibits regular dumping of waste and raw sewage into the harbor.
2000
Water quality begins to improve enough that oysters and other life can survive in New York Harbor.
2010
For the first time in a century, whales return to New York Harbor.
2014
The nonprofit Billion Oyster Project launches, working with people across the five boroughs to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by the year 2035.
Read more about our story.
We have 18 active oyster restoration sites across 16 acres of New York Harbor, and have restored 100 million juvenile oysters since 2014! Oysters are starting to reproduce in the Harbor — a sign that the population can become self-sustaining once again! Did you know New York Harbor is the cleanest it’s been in 100 years?
PLEASE NOTE: It would be very dangerous to eat oysters from New York Harbor. Learn more on our FAQ page.
To restore 1 billion oysters to NY Harbor, we need you
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Learn how oysters foster a healthy, vibrant ecosystem in estuaries like New York Harbor.