Spawning of horseshoe crabs Photo by Jenna Schwerzmann Cornell Cooperative Extension Before the year’s end, Governor Kathy Holchul has the opportunity to sign the bill that would protect the prehistoric horseshoe crab that has endured and survived five extinction periods, from harvesting for bait and biomedical purposes. Notably, the Group for the East End and the life-long defender of all wildlife, conservation biologist Dr. Jane Goodall, endorsed Citizens Campaign for the Environment’s effort to encourage the governor to sign the bill through their writing campaign. The Center for Biological Diversity is also petitioning the federal government to include the Horseshoe
Maintenance of Georgica Pond requires that the pond is opened to flow into the ocean waters – purifying the pond and cleansing it of the summer’s waters as it flows into the ocean. The Trustees open Georgica Pond twice a year to the ocean—in the Fall and Spring. The cut provides a balanced salinity, oxygen, and migration of fish and other living organisms inhabiting the pond that benefit each. Historically, the letting of the pond has been done since pre-colonial times. On November 14th, 2024, the East Hampton Town Trustees opened Georgica Pond to the ocean. The goal of the Fall letting
Eagles at Georgica Pond Fall 2024 Photo by FOGP Alfred Ross Eagles at Georgica Pond Fall 2024 Photo by FOGP Alfred Ross The first two bald eagle nest trees at Georgica Pond succumbed to the southern pine beetle. The FOGP report that they are searching for a new nest, but in the meantime, the eagles are still hunting at Georgica Pond. Enjoy these two spectacular photographs taken by FOGP member Alfred Ross at Georgica Cove a few days ago. Friends of Georgica Pond Foundation Board of Directors Jonathan M. Wainwright, Esq., PresidentAnnie Gilchrist Hall, Vice-PresidentSid Perkins, TreasurerDr. Anna Chapman, SecretaryPriscilla Rattazzi, Board MemberKatharine Rayner, Board MemberLarry Cantwell, Board
What’s going on with the new East Hampton Middle School’s community service club “Do Good Be Good” efforts? East Hampton Town Trustee David Cataletto, is also a middle school teacher, oyster farmer with the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery, and the Director of the newly founded community service club, “Do Good Be Good.” Last week he took his students to the shellfish hatchery at Gann Road last week to participate in the eelgrass restoration project with Rob Vasiluth, the founder of SAVE Environmental. The volunteers glued 10,000 eelgrass seeds to 1,000 juvenile hard clams as part of a pilot project to
Accabonac Harbor salt marsh. Photo Susan McGraw-Keber One of the most beautiful landscapes on the east end is undeniably the saltmarsh of Accabonac Harbor. Accabonac derives from the Indian name for “place where·ground-nuts grow”, tubers that the Indians boiled and ate, also referred to as the Indian potato. From Pew Charitable Trusts: To read about salt marshes and why it’s important to protect them, click on the tab below: 11 Facts About Salt Marshes Mosquito larvae summer survey program: In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the East Hampton Department of Natural Resources, Suffolk County Legislature and Suffolk County Vector Control,
Brooke Del Prete and Mike Bunn with bags of scallops that marine biologists from the Cornell Cooperative Extension are using to track mortality and survivability rates of various strains of bay scallops in the Peconic estuary. Photo Mike Wright Since 2019 Peconic Bay scallops have been dying in massive quantities. Cornell Cooperative Extension scientists have been studying genetic variability in the effort to find more resilient scallop seeds to grow in the bays. Here’s an excerpt from the article: “Scientists from around the region have settled on there not being one single factor but several — topped by the presence
The Trustees have consulted with NYSDEC and confirmed that the following notice: Rescinds the seasonal shellfish harvest closure in the northeast portion of Napeague Harbor and Modifies some statute language regarding the southwest portion of Napeague Harbor, which is currently and remains seasonally closed to shellfishing. Shellfish Harvesters in the Town of East Hampton The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Shellfisheries Section (Department) has filed a notice of adoption with the Department of State as part of the regulatory process regarding recent regulatory changes to the classification of shellfish lands. With this filing it has been determined that the
Without public access to Wainscott Pond, as the owners of the pond, the East Hampton Town Trustees have been unable to monitor the water quality in Wainscott Pond which is besieged annually by blue green algae bloom during the summer months. With warmer temperatures, blue green algae is expected, however, leaving Wainscott Pond without maintenance such as dredging, the water conditions may become become toxic – harmful or dangerous to humans and pets or wildlife. Wainscott Pond Aerial Andy Drake Published June 9th, 2024- Wainscott Pond: Season’s First Blue-Green Algae Bloom For several years, the Trustees have worked with Dr.
The 33rd Annual East Hampton Town Trustees “Largest Clam Contest” was a huge success! Held for the first time at the Amagansett Life-Saving Station on Atlantic Avenue, the gray skies did not put a damper on the Trustee’s popular event! Your East Hampton Town Trustees: The Clerk- Francis Bock, Deputy Clerks- Bill Taylor and Jim Grimes, Trustees John Aldred, Tim Garneau, Ben Dollinger, David Cataletto (also a Trustee with the Amagansett Life-Saving Station), Patrice Dalton, and Celia Josephson. Photo Gallery: Courtesy of The East Hampton Star & The East Hampton Town Trustees 33rd Annual Largest Clam Contest poster Clam Chowder
Scallops Photo by Jon M. Diat EH Star Draft legislation that would move the start of the scallop season here from the third Monday in October to the Sunday after the first Monday in November was floated by Nicholas Coritsidis, an assistant town attorney, at last week’s town board work session. It would take effect in both East Hampton Town and town trustee waters. east hampton star A public hearing was held yesterday, September 26th, at Town Hall. The final resolution for the delay of the opening of scallop season in Trustee waters begins November 10, 2024.
The East Hampton Town Trustees 33rd Annual Largest Clam Contest is scheduled for Sunday, September 29th from 12:00 Noon – 3:00PM. A fun community event, we hope you’ll join us at the AMAGANSETT LIFE SAVING STATION located at 160 Atlantic Avenue! Contest Rules
Statement from Orsted Regarding Mooring System in Use
“As part of the fish monitoring study outlined in the SFW Fisheries Study Work Plan, the Stony Brook University team is conducting a regular visit to the sensor array off Wainscott today to collect data from sensors, replace batteries, and deploy new retrievable moorings alongside the previous moorings. As the Stony Brook team is deploying new moorings alongside the existing moorings there’s no change to the mariners briefing, our standard method for updating mariners on the presence of equipment in navigational waters. Members of the fisheries outreach team, in collaboration with the research team, have worked with the fishing community to select an alternative mooring, one that is smaller, lightweight and retrievable, and is more compatible with commercial fishing in response to the feedback we’ve received from the community on original deployment of cement moorings.”
Images of the mooring system and a diagram are shown below.
