Shellfish aquaculture, can provide a range of ecosystem services beyond food supply, such as creating habitat for fish species, augmenting the spawning potential of native shellfish populations, and improving water quality by increasing filter feeder abundance. However, to-date there has been no scientific investigations to evaluate the impact of aquaculture operation on ecosystem function and services in the Peconic Estuary. This is a two part project. The Phase I is outlined here; Phase II will be carried out as a separate project with separate funding (but outlined in this workplan). In Phase I shellfish aquaculture cages may act as artificial reefs, attracting greater numbers of fish than found on bare bottom, but there is currently no data on which species are attracted and to what density, nor an understanding of why fish utilize these structures (e.g., food source, shelter from predation or refuge from current flow). The proposed research will address critical questions raised by regulatory agencies and substantially advance the understanding of how aquaculture operations influence Peconic fish communities. Phase II will involve the investigation of aquaculture cages and operations and their effect on invertebrates, sediment analysis, and discreet microenvironments in and around aquaculture operations