Shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk County have been temporarily closed to fishing, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced Sunday, due to the extraordinary volume of storm water runoff caused by heavy rainfall over the weekend.
The storm water runoff entering creeks, coves, harbors and bays around the Island may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food, according to the DEC. The areas will re-open when bacteriological analyses of water samples are complete.
The following areas have been designated as prohibited shellfishing areas through Sunday, March 21.
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Town of Hempstead: All shellfish lands within the Town of Hempstead.
Town of Oyster Bay: All shellfish lands in South Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Harbor and Cold Spring Harbor.
Town of Huntington: All shellfish lands in Cold Spring Harbor, Lloyd Harbor, Centerport Harbor, Duck Island Harbor, Northport Bay and the southern portion of Huntington Bay.
Town of Smithtown and Brookhaven: All shellfish lands in Stony Brook Harbor and its tributaries.
Town of Riverhead: All shellfish lands in Flanders Bay and its tributaries.
Town of Southampton: All shellfish lands within the Town of Southampton, including Shinnecock Bay, Sag Harbor, outer Sag Harbor, Flanders Bay, Cold Spring Pond, the Sebonac Creeks, Wooley Pond, Fresh Pond, North Sea Harbor, Red Creek Pond, Squire Pond, Noyac Creek and Mill Pond. (NOTE: Moriches Bay is not included in the closures.)
Town of East Hampton: All shellfish lands within the Town of East Hampton, including, Three Mile Harbor, Hog Creek, Acabonac Harbor, Napeague Harbor, Montauk Harbor, Sag Harbor, outer Sag Harbor, and a portion of Northwest Harbor.
Town of Shelter Island: All shellfish lands within the creeks, harbors and bay within the Town of Shelter Island.
Town of Southold: All shellfish lands within the creeks, harbors and bays within the Town of Southold, including Fishers Island; and a portion of Cutchogue Harbor and a portion of Southold Bay.
A recorded message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard at (631) 444-0480. The message has more detailed descriptions of the closed areas and will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.
