Environment DEC
From the March 2005 issue
DEC Opening Shellfishing in Long Island's Narrow Bay
Approximately 1 million acres of New York State's waters are certified for the harvest of shellfish
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced that DEC plans to adopt regulations to permit seasonal shellfishing in a 476-acre section of Narrow Bay on Long Island's south shore. "DEC's marine water quality monitoring program ensures that all waters open to shellfishing remain clean and safe," Sheehan said. "The program also helps us identify waters that can be reopened to the harvest of shellfish due to improvements in water quality. The most recent addition to the more than 1 million acres of open and seasonal shellfishing waters in the state is the more than 470-acre section of Narrow Bay. This addition offers new seasonal shellfishing opportunities for local harvesters, one of the many benefits of improved water quality in the bay."
The regulations became effective upon publication in the New York State Register on February 16, 2005, and harvesting will be permitted through April 14, 2005. The area will reopen for seasonal harvesting on January 1, 2006. Under the new regulations, shellfish harvesting will be permitted in a portion of Narrow Bay located east of the Smith Point County Park from January 1 through April 14, annually. Narrow Bay is located within the Town of Brookhaven between Bellport Bay to the west and Moriches Bay to the east.
Certified and Uncertified Waters
To protect the health of shellfish consumers, DEC monitors water quality throughout the year. Water samples are collected from nearly 1 million acres of shellfish harvesting areas and are then examined in DEC's microbiology laboratory in East Setauket. Areas that meet stringent New York State and National Shellfish Sanitation Program criteria are designated as certified (open) for the harvest of shellfish. Areas that do not meet those criteria are designated as uncertified (closed) for the harvest of shellfish. New York State's Environmental Conservation Law prohibits the harvest of shellfish from uncertified areas.
Approximately 1 million acres of New York State's waters are certified for the harvest of shellfish. An additional 12,490 acres are now open during certain months of the year for seasonal shellfishing.
Additional Information
Shellfish harvesters and the general public may view these regulations on DEC's Web Site. DEC has mailed notices with a detailed description of the newly reclassified area to all individuals holding New York State shellfish digger's permits who reside in the Town of Brookhaven. Anyone seeking more information about these new regulations should call DEC's Bureau of Marine Resources at 631-444-0475. Additional information about New York State's shellfish sanitation program is also available on DEC's Web Site.
