Suffolk ‘Oyster Jamboree’ to showcase aquaculture economy

As many as 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the second annual Suffolk County Oyster Jamboree & Frolic on Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. The rain date is Aug. 16.

The event will be held in collaboration with the Long Island Oyster Growers Association. It is designed to support Suffolk’s growing aquaculture industry, which contributes to the local economy and improved water quality.

As part of the Suffolk 250 commemoration, this year’s event will feature a colonial theme. Attendees can expect an antique aircraft flyover, a 125-foot modern replica of a 19th-century clipper ship docked in Port Jefferson Harbor, a beer and wine garden, and more than a dozen local oyster growers showcasing their products. There will be shuttle buses to ferry people from designated parking areas to the heart of the festival, where pedestrians can visit the festival, shops and restaurants.

“It was my contention that there’s so many great things in Suffolk County, including those who grow our oysters – those who make their living by the sea – that we should celebrate that,” County Executive Ed Romaine said at a press conference in Port Jefferson on Monday.

“We have a proud history of making our living from the sea and from the land,” Romaine said. “And yes, we’ve been suburbanized, but we don’t forget our roots, and this [event] reminds us of them.”

Romain said that “all of our oysters come from Suffolk County, and we will have them in every way you can eat them – they’ll be fried, they’ll be raw, there will be a whole host of other preparations. It promises to be a great, great event.”

In May, New York State, citing the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, reported that Long Island’s shellfish aquaculture industry generated more than $14.5 million in sales in 2022, supporting the region’s agricultural and coastal economies. The state also reported that more than one-quarter of all farms on Long Island are engaged in aquaculture, including 155 operations in Suffolk and 15 in Nassau County. The industry is composed primarily of small, family-owned businesses that support regional seafood production and local employment.

Aquaculture has long been an important part of the economy and a food source, Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow said at the news conference on Monday.

Back in 1715, The state had adopted an early conservation law “to protect oyster beds from overharvesting – a reminder that stewardship of these waters has mattered for centuries,” she said.

“Today, thanks to cleaner water, scientific innovation and the dedication of Long Island’s oyster growers, aquaculture is again one of our region’s great success stories,” she said.

Long Island’s growers produce local food, support jobs and small businesses and contribute to the health of local bays and harbors, she said.

But the industry requires grit and perseverance.

Romaine said he is “willing to work with all towns across the county to expand the industry. It’s a great industry. It needs support…. It’s not an easy business to be in. One storm can wipe out all your equipment – I’m fully aware of that.”