WHO WE ARE

The City Island Oyster Reef (CIOR), a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization, was formed in December 2019 to expand existing oyster reef restoration efforts in New York City by reestablishing oyster populations in the waters that surround City Island in the western end of Long Island Sound.

Encouraged and inspired by City Island’s historical importance in the oyster industry, CIOR formed to explore the possibility of restoring oysters to the local waters, not for consumption but for the significant role that oysters could play in improving the marine environment. Each adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons a day, which in turn promotes a healthy, resilient marine ecosystem.