Once one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and home to a copious amount of oysters, the New York Harbor is now all but bereft of the amazing biodiversity it hosted 200 years ago. The Billion Oyster Project (BOP) wants to change that by reintroducing life into the degraded ecosystem with the help of oysters. These mollusks have the incredible ability of purifying water by removing pollutants, sediments, and nitrogen from seawater as it sifts for food. One adult oyster can purify 50 gallons of water per day, and a one-acre oyster reef can purify an astonishing 24 million gallons of water daily. Apart from that, these amazing creatures provide vital habitats and shelter for hundreds of species. Since launching in 2014, the Billion Oyster Project has planted over 28 million oysters on 12 oyster beds covering 7 acres. Their goal is to restore 100 acres of oyster reef by 2035, offering hope that the New York Harbor may once again be home to seahorses, seals, and many other unique plants and animals.
Breathing life back into the New York Harbor with one billion oysters
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