Media Mentions

Funding freeze hits water programs once backed by Trump, Zeldin

January 28, 2025 - The freeze is also affecting projects funded by the Protect and Restore America’s Estuaries Act, a bipartisan bill that President Donald Trump signed into law at the end of his first term, said Daniel Hayden, president and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries.

Trump’s funding freeze sends shock waves across energy, environmental agencies

January 28, 2025 - Grant programs to clean up estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes are also expected to be "directly impacted" said Brad Williamson, manager of government affairs and communications for Restore America's Estuaries.

Pearls of Wisdom

January 21, 2025 - “If we harvest all of the oysters — or even just a significant percentage of the oysters — out of the region, then the next generation has no place to grow,” said Hilary Stevens, the coastal resilience manager at Restore America’s Estuaries, which works in Mobile and other places along the coast.

The Oyster Alliance Recycles Over 25 Tons of Oyster Shells

January 1, 2025 - It’s no secret that oysters are a staple in the Florida Panhandle. Not only do they play a crucial role in the ecosystem, they also contribute to the local economy by supporting the commercial finishing industry.

Coastal Habitat Conservation Act Signed into Law

December 13, 2024 - On Wednesday, December 11th, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act was signed into law, authorizing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) Coastal Program U.S. The Coastal Program is a voluntary, partnership-based, habitat conservation program focused in 24 priority coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and in the Caribbean, including the Chesapeake Bay.

Marshland surrounding a beloved CT state park is drowning. It’s one of ‘most imperiled’ in the state.

December 9, 2024 - Officials said that most of Connecticut's tidal marshes are now considered in peril due to increased development along the coastline creating erosion.

Rocky Neck State Park gets $4M NOAA grant for marsh restoration

December 4, 2024 - A $4 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will go towards restoring Rocky Neck State Park, leaders with the Nature Conservancy in Connecticut announced Tuesday.

25 tons of oyster shells recycled in Pensacola area — what to know

November 12, 2024 - The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program has collected over 25 tons of oyster shells since launching The Oyster Alliance in August.

Manatee County man awarded by NOAA and the American Fisher’s Society

October 21, 2024 - Manatee resident, Damon Moore has been awarded the 2024 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award at Restore America’s Estuaries’ Coastal & Estuarine Summit. This award was presented by the NOAA and the American Fisheries Society.

US Representative Bill Keating and EPA Announce $11.5 Million for Cape Cod & Southeast New England Environmental Restoration

October 3, 2024 - On Friday, October 4, U.S. Representative Bill Keating will be joined by federal, state and local partners to announce $11.5 million in grants and technical assistance for local organizations working on high-priority environmental projects, provided through the Southeast New England Program (SNEP).

National Estuaries Week sheds light on fragile habitats

September 27, 2024 - Restore America’s Estuaries, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association and the Association of National Estuary Programs have sought to draw attention to these fragile ecosystems that are continually facing challenges by celebrating National Estuaries Week, Sept. 21-28.

Restore America’s Estuaries Summit to Examine Management Approaches for a Changing Climate

September 24, 2024 - The Pew Charitable Trusts works to address the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss through the conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems. That’s why Pew is proudly sponsoring and participating in the Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) 2024 Coastal and Estuarine Summit: “Capitalizing on Our Coasts.”

CITGO Donates $1 Million for Coast Protection

September 24, 2024 - CITGO has announced it latest round of grants through the CITGO Caring For Our Coast initiative, which includes $1 million for 17 environmental organizations located around the Gulf Coast region and in Lemont, Ill., where CITGO has operations.

RI Trout Unlimited, DEM land funds for Breakheart Dam removal project

September 13, 2024 - RI Trout Unlimited, DEM land funds for the Breakheart Pond Dam removal project. Rhode Island Trout Unlimited and the state Department of Environmental Management received a $190,000 2024 SNEP grant for their joint project — engineering for the removal of Breakheart Pond Dam in the Arcadia Management Area in Richmond

En-shoring a Better Future for Coastal Ecosystems and Communities

September 10, 2024 - Welcome to Season 8 of The Climate Conversation podcast! Many of us are returning from trips to the coast, where breezy beaches provided a respite from the brutal summer heat. But these coastal areas are important for more than just the occasional vacation.

Reed Announces $11.5 Million for Rhode Island’s Regional Environment

September 05, 2024 - The Southeast New England Program (SNEP), funded by Congress and managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), works to restore clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Whitehouse and Cartwright Reintroduce Bill to Create National Strategy to Protect America’s Natural Resources from the Climate Crisis

July 24, 2024 - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) reintroduced a bicameral bill to protect America’s natural resources and wildlife...

NOAA Partners Create Jobs, Train Future Leaders to Advance Habitat Restoration Across the Country

July 22, 2024 - Restore America’s Estuaries is coordinating with partners across the Gulf of Mexico to expand oyster recycling efforts and restore oyster reef habitat.

Nanticoke Tribe and CIB unite for Thompson Island restoration

July 17, 2024 - In a historic gathering, members of the Nanticoke Tribe joined with Delaware Center for the Inland Bays staff June 13 to inaugurate plans for a restoration project taking root at Thompson Island.

$5m worth of oysters wiped out after fresh rainwater overwhelms their Texas home

June 12, 2024 - The oyster industry in Texas was dealt a massive blow after weeks of storms in Houston caused a near-collapse of the mollusk population in Galveston bay and millions in losses for local businesses.

Pearl of a program: Tampa Bay Watch repurposes shucked oyster shells to restore the shore

June 5, 2024 - Shucked shells are helping restore water quality and important oyster reef habitats in Tampa Bay...

Hundreds More Lobster Traps Removed From Massachusetts Island

May 30, 2024- The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) Marine Debris and Plastics Program was awarded a two-year SNEP Watershed Implementation Grant to locate, remove and properly dispose of lost fishing gear...

Restore America's Estuaries Announces Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund Subawardees

May 8, 2024 - Restore America's Estuaries (RAE) is pleased to announce subawardees for the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF)...

Why recycling oyster shells is important + how a $5M grant will help those efforts

March 15 2024 - Five million dollars. That’s how much extra funding oyster conservation groups here on the Gulf Coast just received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)...

Gulf Coast: Oyster Shell Recycling Key to Sustainable Seafood and Coastal Protection

March 6, 2024 - Sitting in one of New Orleans’ popular seafood restaurants, you wouldn’t know that oysters from the Gulf Coast are in trouble...

CRCL to Join Gulf Oyster Recycling and Reef Restoration Network

April 18, 2023 - The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, which operates one of the largest shell recycling programs in the nation, has received federal funding...

The Economic Value of America's Estuaries

December 9, 2021 - Estuaries have always been an essential feature of the economy. “The Economic Value of America’s Estuaries,” written by the Center for the Blue Economy and TBD Economics LLC...