Latest news with #BillionOysterProject
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Oris Supports Billion Oyster Project With New York Harbor Aquis Watch
In another go-round of its support for the Billion Oyster Project, independent watch brand, Oris, launches the New York Harbor Limited Edition II Aquis Date watch. While the launch of the watch, from which a portion of the proceeds of sales goes directly to Billion Oyster Project, is important, it falls perfectly within Oris's wheelhouse. The Swiss-based brand has been climate neutral since 2021 and is committed not just to reducing its own emissions by 10 percent annually, but also to support other projects dedicated to developing a better environment. This is not the first time that Oris has teamed with Billion Oyster Project – a non-profit company whose mission is to restore one billion oysters to the New York Harbor. Thus far, 150 million oysters have been restored. Why oysters? They provide excellent filtration of water. In fact, according to Billion Oyster Project, an adult oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day. Additionally, oyster reefs offer an aquatic ecosystem for marine life. And, as the reefs grow, the hope is that natural oyster rejuvenation will take place. According to Billion Oyster Project co-founder Pete Malinowski, the organization has restored 17 active reef sites in New York Harbor since 2022 when they first started. Since then, more than 2.9 million pounds of oyster shells have been recycled thanks to donations and volunteers. The hope is to reach the billion goal by 2035. Oris first teamed with Billion Oyster Project in 2022 with a limited edition timepiece. The newest venture, the New York Harbor Limited Edition II is an Aquis Date watch with an aqua colored mother-of-pearl dial to recall the water and the oyster shell look. The hands and markers are filled with Super-LumiNova and the sapphire crystal is anti-reflective. The 43.5mm stainless steel watch boasts a unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markers and numerals in relief for touch reading underwater if necessary. Thanks to a screw-in crown and screwed case back, the watch is pressure and water resistant to 300 meters. The case back boasts an engraving with the name of the watch and several oysters on it. It is powered by Oris's automatic Caliber 733 with hours, minutes, seconds, instantaneous date function and stop-second fine timing. and is sold with a steel bracelet as well as an aqua green rubber strap. Just 2,000 of the New York Harbor Limited Edition II watch will be made, each selling for $3,000. 'The ecological challenge can feel overwhelming,' says Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer. 'But when we work together, it gets easier. We're proud to collaborate again with Billion Oyster Project and to witness first-hand the change we're bringing together. Our mission continues.'
Axios
07-08-2025
- Climate
- Axios
7 storm solutions other cities and states are testing out
New Orleans isn't the only city adapting to worsening storms and flooding. Why it matters: Nearly half the world's population lives near coasts, according to The Nature Conservancy, making flooding and erosion a growing threat to millions. Here's a look at what other communities are doing. 🌊 Tampa: Tampa General Hospital deploys an AquaFence flood wall before storms to block rising water. See it in action. Ohio State University also uses one, according to the flood wall manufacturer. The Massachusetts Port Authority in Boston has one for storm surge, too. 🚧 Florida: Babcock Ranch is a planned community in southwest Florida designed to withstand storms — underground utilities, higher elevation, solar systems and an extensive drainage infrastructure, according to Time. When their neighboring communities lost power and flooded during Category 4 Hurricane Ian, they didn't, the story says. 🦪 New York: The Billion Oyster Project is building oyster reefs in New York Harbor to protect the shoreline from storm surge and erosion. 🔌 Baltimore: City leaders started their resilience hub in 2014 and the concept spread to other cities, including New Orleans, Miami and San Francisco, Pew says. These neighborhood centers coordinate multilingual disaster response and double as temporary shelters and cooling spaces. 🌾 New Jersey: The Nature Conservancy is studying how restored marshes, oyster reefs and living shorelines can help coastal communities after Superstorm Sandy.
Time Out
16-06-2025
- General
- Time Out
Manhattan has a great new beach—except you can't swim at it
Did you know Manhattan has a beach? Yes, a real one—with 1,200 tons of sand, Adirondack chairs and sweeping views of the Hudson River. The only catch: You can't swim in it. Opened in late 2023, the Gansevoort Peninsula is the newest addition to Hudson River Park, carved out of a once-industrial zone between Gansevoort Street and Little West 12th. The five-acre space boasts boardwalks, a salt marsh, public art, picnic spots and yes, a beach. But swimming remains firmly off-limits thanks to New York's aging sewer infrastructure. Here's the dirty truth: Two nearby sewer outflows dump stormwater and sewage directly into the Hudson during heavy rain, sometimes with as little as half an inch of precipitation. That runoff carries everything from bacteria to pharmaceuticals, rendering the water unfit for humans about one in every three days, according to environmental watchdog Riverkeeper. 'It's our dream that Gansevoort Beach would be the beginning,' Michael Dulong, the legal director at Riverkeeper, told Gothamist. 'It would provide a model to open up beaches elsewhere throughout the city.' The group has been patrolling New York's waterways on a boat named Fletcher, sampling water at over 200 locations between May and October. They're pushing for a common-sense policy: Let people swim when the water's clean, just like we already do at city beaches after rainfall. Their main argument is that Gansevoort is uniquely positioned. It's sheltered from boat traffic and strong currents, sits in a high-foot-traffic neighborhood and has infrastructure already in place. Testing by the Billion Oyster Project found the water safe in over half the samples collected last summer—but that other half underscores the risk. For now, visitors can soak up the scene from dry land, stroll through the peninsula's boardwalks, or dip their toes from a shallow ramp. And there's still plenty to enjoy: a pine grove, a dog run, a fitness area and Day's End, a monumental sculpture by David Hammons that riffs on Gordon Matta-Clark's original 1975 piece. As for actual swimming, that'll require a massive overhaul of the city's sewer system—one with an estimated $36 billion price tag, according to Gothamist —but advocates say the dream is worth it. 'Imagine if you could just walk to where your street meets the water and jump in the water and if it were safe,' Dulong said, 'A place where you could recreate, where you could lie on the beach.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
East Hampton launches its fourth community-built oyster reef--first ever in Three Mile Harbor--this June
EAST HAMPTON, N.Y., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new community-built oyster reef is coming to Three Mile Harbor this June, thanks to a collaboration between the East Hampton Town Shellfish Hatchery, South Fork Sea Farmers, local students, and restaurants. Installed just off Swans Marina, the reef is the fourth in a growing network of non-harvestable reefs designed to restore water quality and marine life across the East End. This effort builds on the success of three thriving reefs already established in Accabonac Harbor. Behind the scenes, hatchery staff worked throughout the winter to raise young oysters—called spat—that will soon attach to cured shells and begin filtering the harbor. Each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing excess nutrients and supporting marine biodiversity. "This project is what community science is all about—students learning hands-on, creating habitat, and seeing firsthand how shellfish improve water quality," said Barley Dunne, Hatchery Director. "It's an investment in the bay, and in our next generation of stewards." Local students from East Hampton High School are helping construct the reef using reclaimed shells donated by Il Buco, Bostwick's, Rowdy Hall, Almond, Lunch, Shark Bar, and the Billion Oyster Project. "Each reef we build is a living system," said Robert Tymann, Education Chair at South Fork Sea Farmers. "These students are building something that will last—and clean the harbor in the process." The project is also supported by Mickey's Carting, which donated trucking services to deliver over 35,000 pounds of cured shell. Dozens of local volunteers have helped collect, clean, and cure the shells for use in the reef. "When local businesses step up like this, it shows how much people care about the future of our waters," said Jeff Ragovin, President of South Fork Sea Farmers. "This reef belongs to the whole community." The new reef will serve as critical infrastructure for clean water and habitat restoration—bringing people together around a shared commitment to the bay. For more information visit View original content: SOURCE South Fork Sea Farmers
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Ben Bridge And Oris Partner To Create A Limited-Edition Dive Watch
Oris Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition' in 43.5mm 36.5mm stainless steel Ben Bridge Jeweler and Oris have partnered to produce the Oris Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition' timepiece. The collaboration merges refined design with dive-ready performance and symbolizes a shared commitment to sustainable practices, the two companies said in a joint statement. 'It brings together two heritage brands with a shared vision for the future of sustainable luxury,' the two companies said in the statement. Signature details of the watch include a radiant purple mother-of-pearl dial, 300 meters of water resistance, and the Oris Red Rotor all-mechanical movement. The purple dial is Ben Bridge's signature color. The Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition' is offered in two sizes both in stainless steel: a 43.5mm version limited to just 125 pieces and a smaller 36.5mm version limited to 40 pieces. The watch is available worldwide. The caseback of the Oris Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition' with engraved Ben Bridge logo and ... More individual limited-edition number Oris, the watch brand its manufacturing facility in Hölstein, Switzerland, says it is the world's first climate and carbon-neutral certified watch brand. The mother-of-pearl dial reflects Oris' alliances with sustainability-minded partners like the Billion Oyster Project and the Coral Restoration Foundation. Ben Bridge also touts its record when it comes to sustainability. Each year, the retail chain, which operates more than 30 stores in nine western states contributes more than $600,000 to non-profit ventures in and around the communities where it does business, the company said. In addition, the company said it is in total support of Ukraine in the Russian invasion of that country and has refused to source diamonds from Russia. It is a member of the Kimberly Process, a certification system to control the export and import of rough diamonds, designed to ensure they are not being used to support conflict. It also works to have a transparent and ethical supply chain, requiring all its suppliers to sign a 'Supplier Code of Conduct' to help ensure the materials and products comply with laws and industry regulations regarding sustainability and conflict and other important international issues such as human trafficking and slavery. The transparent sapphire crystal caseback symbolizes this commitment, the two companies said. The Oris Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition' The caseback also has an engraved Ben Bridge logo and individual limited-edition numbering on the caseback. Buyers can select their preferred number (subject to availability), adding a personal connection to the watch. 'With our shared belief in ethical sourcing, we can't wait to share these unique designs, combining the energy of Oris and the spirit of Ben Bridge,' Lisa Bridge, president and CEO of Ben Bridge Jeweler, said in a statement. Both watches are powered by the Oris 773 automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve. They are engineered as a modern diver watch, with both models are water-resistant up to 300 meters while retaining a sports-chic appearance. The unisex timepieces are both priced at $2,500. 'Our two companies share similar values, and it is always most rewarding to partner with a company who has the highest sense of ethics. We are excited to bring this uniquely designed Limited Edition Aquis collaboration to market.' V.J. Geronimo, Oris' CEO – The Americas, said in the same statement. The Oris Aquis Date 'Ben Bridge Limited Edition officially debuted Thursday at a launch event held at the Ben Bridge University Village Timeworks store in Seattle, Washington.
