Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is partnering with The Nature Conservancy and the Town of Wellfleet to reestablish wild oyster habitat in Wellfleet Bay. Our reef is part of the Habitat Restoration project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Wild oyster reefs are about more than having the world-famous Wellfleet oysters to eat. The oysters that appear on our plates are farmed, and that's fine. The habitat restoration project will produce environmental benefits that go far beyond supplying oysters for consumption. 

Restoring habitat by building oyster reefs will:

• Improve water quality in Wellfleet Bay
• Provide protection for the nearby coastal areas
• Support biodiversity in Wellfleet Bay
• Provide an educational experience for school children and other visitors to the sanctuary
• Through careful scientific monitoring, provide data to support additional habitat restoration up and down the Atlantic coast

Our grant from NOAA requires that we raise matching funds. We've set a goal of $12,500 for the first year. If we raise more than that, we can build a bigger reef the second year!

Find out about using Oyster Reef Balls and Spat Blocks to build an oyster reef.  Click on links to see pictures and a slideshow of construction to date.

Go to Bob Prescott's page to donate $250 to sponsor an Oyster Reef Ball

Go to Bob Prescott's page to donate $100 to sponsor a Spat Block

Go to Bob Prescott's page to donate another amount to support habitat restoration in Wellfleet Bay!