RCTB grows shellfish as part of a teaching learning experience that promotes environmental stewardship. Members are dedicated to help environmentally sensitive creatures, shellfish, to become sustainable in the Barnegat Bay estuary. The greatest concern is the condition of the water in the bay, the bay floor, and the edges of the bay where the shellfish live. As part of its effort, RCTB wants to demonstrate and promote the service that the shellfish can to provide to the bay. They filter the water, provide habitat for other organisms and stabilize the bay floor and edges.

Relationship – The relationship between RCTB and Mordecai Island Land Trust (MLT) is based on working together to use shellfish as part of the Mordecai Island reclamation and sustainability project.

The Barnegat Bay estuary, the islands, the shorelines and the shellfish and all populations have endured degradation; some man made, some from nature and some for reasons that we do not yet understand. The ability to endure the problems is called resilience. Therefore, RCTB reaches out to a variety of partners which have a similar mission, to make the bay sustainable. The various organizations focus on their particular piece of the puzzle but do so in such a way that the entire estuary benefits. RCTB and the many organizations that encourage and facilitate stewardship all need to raise awareness about the mission that they have undertaken, educate their members and then reach out to the public to educate them as well. The point is to take Actions that will make habitats resilient and therefore sustainable. The actions require funding.

RCTB has a common interest in the activities to make Mordecai Island sustainable because it will be good for the condition of the estuary. It also can be done is such a way that shellfish can be part of the solution and that will add to the sustainability of the shellfish population. This will engage the public in a project to make the land sustainable, for people and for the creatures in, on and around Mordecai Island. Specifically, RCTB can participate in the awareness and education and provide shellfish and the experience and knowledge and resources to support various stabilization projects.

RCTB has teamed up with the Mordecai Land Trust to help stabilize and prevent further erosion to the island off of Beach Haven by installing a living shoreline to protect the island.