ReClam the Bay

What ReClam the Bay does

ReClam the Bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 and headquartered in Waretown, New Jersey, that cultivates and stocks clams and oysters in Barnegat Bay to restore water quality and shellfish reef habitat. Its core operations consist of volunteer-run upwellers (nursery systems for juvenile shellfish), shoreline and bay-bottom reef deployments across approximately 31 Clam Trail sites, and a longitudinal water quality and shellfish growth monitoring program that has accumulated two decades of field data.

The organization serves the Barnegat Bay ecosystem, its surrounding communities, and downstream recreational and commercial water users who benefit from improved water clarity and habitat. It partners with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection under the LEHT shellfish program (2023 contract), the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust (Mordecai Island partnership, 2022), and NJ COASTAL (2022 in-kind commitment of $118,500), while engaging more than 600 volunteers, local schools, and civic groups in hands-on restoration work.

ReClam the Bay funds its operations through a mix of donations, memberships, special events, merchandise, and grants from government agencies and conservation partners. 2024 total operational investment is reported at $555,100, with cumulative reinvestment of $1.9 million into Barnegat Bay and $3 million overall since 2005. The Clam Trail doubles as a public education and outreach channel tied to reef locations, broadening the organization's reach beyond direct reef work.

Name

ReClam the Bay

Legal name

ReClam the Bay

Website

https://reclamthebay.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ReClam the Bay is a New Jersey nonprofit that cultivates and stocks clams and oysters in Barnegat Bay to restore water quality and shellfish reef habitat, supported by 600+ volunteers, government contracts, grants, and member donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Shellfish Farming (112512), Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Breakwaters, Seawalls & Coastal Defense Structures (IMAFAJAC)

Keywords

• Shellfish restoration
• Bay watershed conservation
• Volunteer aquaculture
• Living shoreline projects
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Waretown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations and one-time contributions from supporters who want to show support for RCTB or honor someone who loved the bay. Online donations via PayPal and mailed checks accepted.
2. Sustaining Memberships: Annual membership fees at various levels (Shellfish Friend $20+, Defender $50+, Guardian $100+, Champion $250+) providing financial support to run boats, pay insurance, keep upwellers running, buy seed, support education activities, and internship programs.
3. Grants and Financial Partnerships: Grants and donations from financial partners including foundations, businesses, and organizations that provide funding RCTB can leverage for environmental improvements.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of RCTB merchandise including stickers, apparel, and other branded items at events and through the RCTB store (Shopify).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ReClam the Bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that cultivates hard clams and oysters from seed in a network of 10+ land-based upweller nurseries around Barnegat Bay, then deploys mature shellfish to restore wild populations and stabilize shorelines. The organization pairs this restoration work with volunteer-driven public education programs, classroom curricula, and community festivals to drive bay stewardship across New Jersey.

Product overview

ReClam the Bay is a non-profit environmental organization (501 c3) operating a multi-faceted environmental restoration and education program centered on shellfish cultivation in the Barnegat Bay estuary. The core offering is the Upweller Shellfish Nursery Program, which grows millions of baby clams and oysters annually in land-based nurseries while providing hands-on educational experiences. Supporting programs include the Clam Trail scavenger hunt, Shellfish in the Classroom school programs, Living Shoreline stabilization projects, Interactive hands-on presentations, and the Coastal Knowledge Resource Gateway. The organization operates through volunteer engagement and sustaining membership programs, with a Financial Partnership Program offering business sponsorship tiers. Founded in 2005, RCTB serves Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, and Little Egg Harbor Bay in New Jersey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shellfish Nursery (Upweller) Program A land-based shellfish nursery program using upweller tanks fed with flowing baywater to grow hard clams and oysters from pencil-point seed to M&M-sized release stock at 10+ sites around the Barnegat Bay estuary; volunteers and the public participate while learning about bay ecology.
• Clam Trail Scavenger Hunt An educational scavenger hunt featuring decorated giant clam installations at 31 locations across Long Beach Island and the mainland; participants learn bay facts, progress through Grower/Planter/Harvester levels, and earn a Certificate of Completion and RCTB stickers.
• Shellfish in the Classroom Program A K-12 environmental education program in which trained RCTB volunteers deliver classroom instruction on Barnegat Bay Watershed problems and the actions students can take to improve them.
• Living Shoreline Projects Shoreline stabilization projects using deployed shellfish, shell bags, and oyster castle structures (interlocking concrete blocks) to create living shorelines that reduce erosion and provide habitat; contracted with municipalities such as Little Egg Harbor Township.
• Interactive Hands-On Presentations Public hands-on educational sessions at the Maritime Museum, Bayview Park, and Surf City Bay Beach that combine shellfish education with bay creature observation and stewardship activities for families and children.
• Sustaining Membership Program An annual membership program for individuals at tiers from Shellfish Friend ($20+) up to Shellfish Champion ($250+) that funds boat operations, insurance, upwellers, seed purchases, education, and internships.
• Financial Partnership Program A corporate sponsorship program with tiers (Shellfish Friend $250, Defender $500, Guardian $1,000, Champion $1,500) offering business branding on upwellers, mentions in print and radio advertisements, and recognition plaques.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14.5 million shellfish put back into the Bay since 2005
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Little Egg Harbor TownshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Awarded two contracts to RCTB in July 2023 to design and construct Spat-on-Shell projects for restoration at Parkertown and Mystic Beaches.
• Save Barnegat BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner working with RCTB on variety of projects to educate people and improve the bay. Joint efforts on bay preservation and awareness campaigns.
• LBI Foundation for the Arts & SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on educational programs and bay improvement initiatives in the Long Beach Island region.
• Barnegat Bay PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and research partner involved in shellfish studies and bay restoration research alongside RCTB.
• Mordecai Island Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on living shoreline projects including the Mordecai Island Project involving shell bag deployment and oyster colony establishment.
• American Littoral SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal conservation organization partnering with RCTB on various bay improvement and education initiatives.
• Rutgers University NJAES (New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner conducting shellfish studies with RCTB. Hosts Coastal Stewardship Classes that train RCTB volunteers.
• Stockton University Marine Field StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner studying oyster restoration and ecosystem services at Barnegat Bay restoration sites including Tuckerton Reef.
• NJ Division of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner managing the Marine Conservation Zone where RCTB deploys cultivated shellfish.
• Ocean County Soil Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NJ COASTAL Aquaculture Project (Conservation Opportunities Advancing Sustainable Technologies for Aquaculture Leases). RCTB pledged $118,500 in in-kind services over five years for this project.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NJ Bay Islands Initiative (NJBII) focused on protecting and promoting critical functions of bay islands through federal grant-funded restoration.
• NJ Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in bay island restoration and Mordecai Island living shoreline project with $45,000 grant funding.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NJ Bay Islands Initiative focused on bay island protection and restoration.
• MATES (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal vocational school partner in bay education initiatives.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Billion Oyster Project: New York City-based nonprofit that restores oyster reefs in New York Harbor through volunteer-driven restoration, school programs, and public engagement. Most directly comparable to ReClam the Bay in mission, volunteer model, and educational outreach tied to shellfish cultivation.
• Oyster Recovery Partnership: Chesapeake Bay-based nonprofit focused on oyster reef restoration through hatchery operations, spat-on-shell deployment, and volunteer engagement. Highly comparable for spat-on-shell technique, hatchery sourcing, and living shoreline restoration work.

Broad incumbents

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Largest nonprofit dedicated to Chesapeake Bay restoration, including oyster reef and living shoreline projects alongside broader advocacy and education. Operates at a much larger scale across multiple states but shares the bay-restoration and volunteer-engagement mission.
• Coastal Conservation Association: National nonprofit focused on marine resource conservation, particularly finfish and habitat protection. Operates as a broader advocacy and conservation counterpart to RCTB's narrower shellfish restoration focus.
• The Nature Conservancy (New Jersey Chapter): Global conservation nonprofit with active New Jersey programs, including the NJ Bay Islands Initiative alongside RCTB. Not a direct competitor but a partner and funder operating in the same watershed.

Regional players

• Barnegat Bay Partnership: National Estuary Program for the Barnegat Bay watershed, coordinating research, restoration, and education. RCTB's listed academic/research partner with direct overlap on shellfish studies and bay restoration science.
• Save Barnegat Bay: Local nonprofit advocacy and conservation organization focused on protecting Barnegat Bay water quality and ecosystems. RCTB's listed community partner and most regionally overlapping organization, though Save Barnegat Bay focuses more on advocacy and policy than shellfish cultivation.
• New York Harbor Foundation: New York-based nonprofit supporting harbor and estuary restoration, education, and public access. Comparable estuary-restoration and education mission in an adjacent Northeastern geography.
• American Littoral Society: Coastal conservation nonprofit focused on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Listed RCTB partner; comparable in coastal habitat restoration and education mission, though with broader geographic scope.
• Mordecai Island Land Trust: Local land trust dedicated to preserving Mordecai Island in Barnegat Bay. RCTB's listed partner on the Mordecai Island living shoreline project, with directly overlapping conservation mission and geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reclamthebay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reclam-the-bay
• Instagraminstagram.com/reclamthebay
• Xx.com/reclamthebay

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ReClam the Bay