If they grow big enough, the oyster reefs can even play a role in dissipating wave energy, helping to protect the city’s shorelines from storm surges and flooding in extreme weather.
“They’re habitat-builders,” Ms. Roble said.
The newly deployed oysters are attached to more than 200 subtidal habitats, including metal orbs, cages and mesh wraps, in the water between Piers 26 and 34, off TriBeCa.
It’s the first large-scale habitat restoration within the Hudson River Park’s estuarine sanctuary, an area where fresh water from the river and saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean mix and create a nutrient-rich ecosystem for more than 85 species of fish.
Ms. Roble noted that the estuary is a crucial incubator for regional waterways, and that many types of fish migrate through the area or spawn there. Striped bass caught in Connecticut or New Jersey likely spent time in the Hudson when they were young.
And more vibrant marine life leads to exponential growth. For example, big populations of menhaden, a small silver fish, attract humpback whales that feed on them.
Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News 
You must be logged in to post a comment.