Fairpicture in New York

Four hundred years ago, oyster reefs in New York Harbor formed the living bedrock of one of the planet’s most dynamic and productive ecosystems. With a single adult oyster able to filter up to 189 litres of water per day, the reefs not only kept the water clean but provided a habitat for a myriad of plants, aquatic animals and birds. By the early 1900s, pollution, dredging and worldwide demand for oysters – a culinary delicacy – had wiped out the reefs and with them nearly all life in the harbour. While environmental legislation and better wastewater treatment have improved water quality in recent years, naturally occurring oysters have not returned.

Inspired by work with students at a local marine and maritime-focused public high school, Billion Oyster Project is an ambitious effort to restore eastern oysters to New York Harbour through education and community mobilisation. “Rewilding” oyster reefs promises to reduce water pollution, attract other native species back to this once thriving estuary and, in the long run, help protect the city from storm damage and rising sea levels.

In March 2024, visual creator Anna Watts met the inspiring people behind the Billion Oyster Project, who have set themselves the goal of reintroducing a billion oysters to New York Harbour by 2035. In her images and videos, Anna explores the organisation's visionary approach of rewilding an endangered species in a dense metropolis with broad community support.

Anna's collected visual material has now found its way onto the Swiss Re Foundation website. It is also planned to use it on their social media channels as well as in the recently released annual report, where many other impact stories created by and withFairpicture can also be found.