Holding Back the Tide 2024

New York City boasts an extensive coastline exceeding 500 miles, where the bustling New York Harbor once thrived as a haven for oysters, providing nearly half of the world’s oyster population. These fascinating bivalves not only filter water while breathing, but they also possess the unique ability to change their sex during reproduction. Often regarded merely as a culinary delicacy, oysters play a crucial role in maintaining their ecosystem. They create reefs that offer habitat for various aquatic species, guard against storm surges, and combat coastal erosion. Historically, before humans began to overharvest them, oysters flourished in the harbor, contributing to water quality and serving as a vital food source for both the indigenous Lenape people and the settlers of New Amsterdam.

Today, however, the waterways of New York are at a critical juncture, facing challenges that could determine the city’s future livability. Rising sea levels pose significant threats to the coast, while escalating climate change leads to increasingly severe superstorms. Each rainfall event in the city results in Combined Sewer Overflows that release untreated waste into the harbor. Furthermore, the public transit infrastructure shows signs of distress, with severe flooding becoming alarmingly prevalent. In response to these growing environmental crises, a variety of non-profit organizations, for-profit firms, and political entities are collaborating to implement sustainable solutions aimed at preserving the city for future generations. Despite a daunting outlook, many individuals are striving to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Fortunately, recent reports from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection indicate that the harbor’s water has become cleaner than it has been in over a century, primarily due to the dedicated efforts of environmental groups and activists advocating for the future.

Among these devoted organizations is the Billion Oyster Project (BOP), which has taken a creative approach by utilizing oysters to help shape a more resilient future. BOP partners with numerous restaurants throughout NYC to collect discarded oyster shells otherwise destined for landfills. These reclaimed shells serve as essential surfaces for new oysters to thrive on, contributing to the formation of reefs after being restocked with baby oysters, commonly referred to as spat.

Another innovative organization making strides is the landscape design firm SCAPE, which is developing the Living Breakwaters project. This initiative focuses on constructing protective structures off the coast of Staten Island, aimed at safeguarding the neighborhood of Tottenville, an area with a rich heritage in oystering.

In the culinary realm, the oyster has become a unifying force for farmers and food workers. Notably, Moody “The Mothershucker” Harney utilizes his oyster cart to reclaim oysters for the broader public, stepping away from their previous image as an exclusive culinary experience. His cart draws inspiration from Thomas Downing, celebrated as the Black Oyster King of New York in the 1800s. Former WNBA star Sue Wicks also finds her place in the oyster industry, farming oysters while discovering tranquility on the water. She relates deeply to these mollusks, appreciating their unique characteristics that inspire new perspectives on sex and gender, liberating herself from societal norms.

Holding Back The Tide is a remarkable exploration of the intricate connections and relevance of oysters in New York City, showcasing various initiatives dedicated to addressing environmental challenges across all five boroughs and beyond. It not only highlights the essential role oysters play in the ecosystem but also reflects on the urgent environmental time-bomb facing the city that must be dealt with for a sustainable future.