Oyster reef revival in Great Bay: How the program is expanding – and with more funds

One thousand acres of New Hampshire’s Great Bay were once covered by live oyster reefs. Today, 90 percent have vanished, lost to pollution, disease, and harvest.

But the tidal estuary is now the site of a celebrated revival, where a pilot restoration project proved so successful, it’s getting a funding boost in the millions and expanding to additional states. 

The Nature Conservancy and Pew Charitable Trusts are launching the second phase of their “Support Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration” program, also known as SOAR. Over the next four years, the program will see an additional $6.3 million in funding to rebuild oyster reefs and foster a thriving aquaculture industry. 

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