In the News

We were so honored to be recognized by the Suffolk County Legislature last week during its meeting on March 10, 2026. Legislator Ann Welker presented us with an official Proclamation that celebrates the Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot. The Proclamation recognizes our partners who helped make it a reality, including the Shinnecock Nation, Mission Blue, and The Explorers Club. The Proclamation also highlights the work of Stony Brook University’s Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program and

The Institute for Ocean Conservation Science welcomed acclaimed photographer Felix Kunze and his team, Magnus Karlsson and Sequoyah Wildwyn-Dechter, to Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus during our 2024 Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot expedition . Felix recently highlighted our project on his website and showcased some of his incredible photography. IOCS’s Dr Ellen Pikitch and Christine Santora, featured by photographer Felix Kunze. Our project in the Shinnecock Bay Hope S

From Stony Brook News , January 22nd, 2026 Coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea,” face immense pressures from climate change as well as destructive fishing, harmful tourism, coastal development, unsustainable land use, oil spills and other threats that often require regional solutions that span national borders. Addressing these threats is also key to ensuring that coral reefs are as resilient as possible against the accelerating impacts from climate change. Faculty memb

As we close out 2025, we are grateful to have had a year marked by groundbreaking research, meaningful partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to marine conservation. From pioneering eDNA technology to working with Indigenous partners and international experts, here's a look at what we accomplished. Advancing the use of eDNA as a low-impact way of assessing biodiversity This year marked our sixth consecutive year of eDNA sampling in Shinnecock Bay, building an impressive d