The Italian paramour Casanova claimed to have started his meals by eating 12 oysters to fortify himself for the evening’s pleasures. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the sea on an oyster’s shell, fixing fast her association with oysters, and thus originating the word “aphrodisiac.” A few scientists even postulate that the amino acid found in oysters triggers increased levels of sex hormones. Whether fact or fiction, there’s a lot to love about oysters.

This past week students of East Hampton High School and Springs School joined South Fork Sea Farmer’s Bob Tymann and John “Barley” Dunne, director of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery and SFSF along with Aubrey Peterson, the high school’s director of the Environmental Awareness Club and guidance counselor, to examine and determine what the best location would be for a site selection to create an oyster reef in Accabonac Harbor. A total of three sites are under consideration, two of those would require permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Shell It Out Hamptons event in East Hampton on 5-26-19. All photos by Rob Rich.

John “Barley” Dunne, Director of The East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery and South Fork Sea Farmers shows how the new oyster seedlings that were grown at the Shellfish Hatchery, are prepared for growing in the harbor waters.

South Fork Sea Farmers’ 4th annual “Shell it Out” fundraiser is happening August 7, 2022 in Springs from 4pm to 6:30pm. The event features a silent auction with goods and services donated by local businesses which support the mission of South Fork Sea Farmers. Most notably, three incredible East End artists – Daniel Vernola, Aaron Warkov and Kurt Giehl – will be creating a series of pieces for the auction.