Environmental Stewardship
Fun On The Water
Environmentally Conscious Marina
A Legacy of Environmental Stewardship
Environmental stewardship has been part of Cedar Island Marina for decades. From 1987 until the end of 2022, the marina operated an onsite marine research laboratory where scientists, universities, and environmental organizations conducted studies on water quality, marine habitats, fish populations, and shellfish growth in Clinton Harbor and Long Island Sound. This work produced peer reviewed publications, long term ecological monitoring, and innovative projects, including a patented dock design developed by Jeff Shapiro that allows oysters to be grown directly within marina docks.
Cedar Island Marina continues this commitment today by partnering with Save the Sound and supporting ongoing marine research and restoration efforts. The marina provides space in its former research laboratory, dockage for research vessels, and use of its docks helping to facilitate projects such as eelgrass restoration and marine habitat research in Long Island Sound. Together, Cedar Island Marina’s research laboratory, patented environmental innovations, academic studies, and current conservation partnerships reflect a longstanding commitment to understanding and supporting the coastal environment.
Partnership with Save the Sound
Cedar Island Marina partners with Save the Sound to support restoration and monitoring efforts throughout Long Island Sound. One of the primary initiatives conducted out of Cedar Island Marina focuses on eelgrass restoration. Eelgrass meadows provide important nursery habitat for fish and shellfish, improve water clarity, and help stabilize coastal sediments, yet they have declined significantly in many areas of Long Island Sound. Save the Sound is leading a groundbreaking project at the marina to prepare eelgrass seeds using a technique that attaches seeds to clam shells before deploying them into the Sound, where they naturally settle and encourage new growth. These efforts help rebuild eelgrass habitat and support the long-term health of the coastal ecosystem.
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Did You Know?
Research conducted at Cedar Island Marina found that the waters beneath marina docks supported an abundance of marine life, in most cases exceeding nearby open areas outside the marina. During studies conducted through the Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory, scientists observed that the floating docks created sheltered conditions that reduced wave action, provided structure, and encouraged the growth of shellfish and other organisms. These conditions attracted juvenile fish and created natural nursery habitat within the marina basin. The findings challenged the common perception that marinas negatively impact marine ecosystems and instead demonstrated that, when properly managed, marina environments can provide valuable habitat and support thriving marine life.
Published Studies
Over the years, the Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory supported numerous environmental studies focused on Clinton Harbor and Long Island Sound, including peer reviewed research, habitat assessments, and long term ecological monitoring. These studies examined marine life, water quality, and the role marina environments can play in supporting healthy coastal ecosystems.
See Our Publications
Cedar Island Marina Research Department
Peer Review
- 2000 — Carlson J.K., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, T.A. Randall and P.E. Pellegrino.
Utilization of Natural Intertidal and Marina Habitats by Juvenile Winter Flounder, Pleuronetes americanus.
Submitted to J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci. - 2000 — Sunila, I. and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Experimental transmission of the haplosporidian parasite MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni) to the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in an upwelling system.
Submitted to Dis Aquat Org. - 1999 — Randall, T.A., J.K. Carlson and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Distribution and density of submerged aquatic vegetation beds in a Connecticut harbor.
Rhodora, Vol. 101, No. 905, pp. 40–45. - 1997 — Carlson, J.K., T.A. Randall and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Feeding habits of winter flounder Pleuronectes americanus in a habitat exposed to anthropogenic disturbance.
J. Northwood. Atlantic Fish. Science 21:65–75.
Published Abstracts
- 1999 — Sunila, I., J. Volk., J. Karolus., T. Backer., S. Czyzyk., E. Lang., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina and K. Rivara.
Disease-resistant Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in Long Island Sound.
19th Milford Aqua. Sem. Abs. - 1998 — Mroczka, M.E., of Cedar Island Marina, J.K. Carlson, T.A. Randall and P.E. Pellegrino.
Utilization of Natural Intertidal and Marina Habitats by Juvenile Winter Flounder, Pleuronectes americanus.
American Fish. Soc. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1998 — Randall, T.A., J.K. Carlson and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Distribution and Density of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Beds in Connecticut Harbor.
New England Estur. Res. Soc. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1997 — Carlson, J.K., T.A. Randall and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Feeding Habits of Winter Flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) in a Community Exposed to Anthropogenic Disturbance.
Estuary Research Federation. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1996 — Pellegrino, P.E., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina and T. Casanova.
The Living Seashore: An Interactive Multimedia Guide to the Invertebrates of Hammonasset State Park (Madison CT).
New England Estuary Research Society. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1996 — Mroczka, M.E. of Cedar Island Marina., T. Casanova, P.E. Pellegrino, T.A. Randall and J.K. Carlson.
Feeding Habits of Juvenile Winter Flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) within a Coastal Marina Basin and Adjacent Intertidal Flats.
New England Estuary Research Society. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1996 — Mroczka, M.E., of Cedar Island Marina, T. Casanova, P.E. Pellegrino, T.A. Randall and J.K. Carlson.
Coastal Marina Basins as Potential Fishery Habitat with Special Emphasis on Nursery Function.
New England Estuary Research Society. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1996 — Choromanski, J., S. Stiles, D. Schweitzer and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Comparison of Three Long Island Sound Sites for the Grow-out of Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians).
16th Milford Aquatic Sem. Abs. - 1996 — Mroczka. M.E., of Cedar Island Marina, P.W. Dinwoodie, R. Goldberg, J. Pereira, P. Clark, S. Stiles, J. Chromanski and D. Schwitzer.
Culture of the Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) Within a Small-Boat Marina on Long Island Sound (Connecticut).
16th Milford Aquatic Sem. Abs. - 1995 — Randall, T.A., J.K. Carlson, M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina and P.E. Pellegrino.
Coastal Marina Basins as Potential Nursery Habitat for Juvenile Winter Flounder (Pleuronectes americanus).
Estuary Research Federation. Ann. Mtg. Abs. - 1994 — Pellegrino, P.E. and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Water Quality Survey of Cedar Island Marina (Clinton, CT): 1989–1991.
Long Island Sound Research Conference Abs. - 1994 — Pellegrino, P.E. and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
Finfish Utilization of Cedar Island Marina Basin (Clinton, CT): 1989–1991.
Long Island Sound Research Conference Abs.
Unpublished Manuscripts, Studies and Reports
- 1999, 1998 — Clements, L., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina and S.C. Pianka.
Quinnipiac River Impoundment Restoration; Lake Sediment Disposal Options and Sediment Testing (Meriden and Wallingford, CT). - 1994 — Pellegrino, P.E., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, P.W. Dinwoodie and T.A. Randall.
Biological monitoring of Cedar Island Marina basin: 1992 Diel Water Quality Survey.
Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory Press. 212 pp. - 1994 — Pellegrino, P.E., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, P.W. Dinwoodie and T.A. Randall.
Biological monitoring of Cedar Island Marina basin: 1991 Diel Water Quality Survey.
Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory Press. 276 pp. - 1994 — Pellegrino, P.E., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, D.T. Canny, T.A. Randall, S.J. Cappella, J.K. Carlson and P.W. Dinwoodie.
Biological monitoring of Cedar Island Marina basin: 1990 Diel Water Quality Survey.
Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory Press. 282 pp. - 1993 — Pellegrino, P.E., M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, T.A. Randall, S.J. Cappella, J.K. Carlson and D.T. Canny.
Biological monitoring of Cedar Island Marina basin: 1989 Diel Water Quality Survey.
Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory Press. 156 pp. - 1991 — Sibley, F. N. Proctor and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina.
A Birding Survey of Cedar Island Marina Inc. (1989–1990).
Cedar Island Marina Research Laboratory Press. 27 pp. - 1991 — Mroczka, M.E. of Cedar Island Marina.
An Investigation of the Finfish Utilization of the Coastal Marina Basin with Special Emphasis on the Winter Flounder (Pleuronectes americanus).
Thesis. Southern Connecticut State University. 86 pp. - 1989 — Pellegrino, P.E., and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, T.A. Randall and J.K. Carlson.
Baseline ecological studies of Clinton Harbor (Clinton, CT). - 1987 — Pellegrino, P.E. and M.E. Mroczka of Cedar Island Marina, J.K. Carlson and T.A. Randall.
A biological assessment of intertidal-shallow water habitats adjacent to Cedar Island Marina (Clinton, CT).
Cedar Island Marina, Clinton, CT.