On November 8, from 5 pm to 8 pm, the third annual “Save Our Seagrass” benefit will be held at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. Proceeds will be donated to the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Meadows Program, which works to restore eelgrass in Long Island’s bays.
According to the New York State Seagrass Task Force, in the 1930s an estimated 200,000 acres of seagrass inhabited Long Island’s bays. That number now is down to 22,000 acres.
Plugs for planting new sea grass.
Eelgrass provides an important habitat for shellfish like bay scallops as well as finfish like striped bass. “We’ve been trying to bring the point home that everyone who lives and visits out here enjoys the marine environment so much and this is a great way to give back,” says Kimberly Barbour the habitat restoration outreach specialist for the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Program.
The benefit will be held under a heated tent and local bay scallops, craft beer, local wine and a local raw bar will be served with live music. Tickets for the event are $75 for adults and $35 for students and attendees under 21 years old. Save Our Seagrass is also looking for goods to be donated for a raffle. Sponsorship packages and tickets can be found here or purchased by calling Kimberly Barbour 631.461.5294.
