Brookhaven: Port Jefferson Harbor
Pursuant to the provisions of 6NYCRR 47.3(b), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in cooperation with the Town of Brookhaven, will initiate conditonal shellfish harvesting programs for portions of the uncertified shellfish lands in Port Jefferson Harbor. In order to take advantage of the program, please read the following:
1. Program Duration:
The program will run from December 17, 2007 through April 18, 2008 (both dates inclusive). Many towns run the same program(s) from year to year. This page will be left up after the program has ended to provide general information on the conditional programs in the Town of Brookhaven.
2: Conditional Harvesting Area Description:
All of the uncertified shellfish lands in Port Jefferson Harbor as described in the NOTICE TO ALL SHELLFISH HARVESTERS, NOTICE OF THE CONDITION OF ALL SHELLFISH LANDS LOCATED WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN dated January 1, 2007.
EXCEPT, all that area of Port Jefferson Harbor and tributaries lying south of a line extending northeasterly from the flagpole located at the foot of Washington Street, Poquott, to the boat house located on the opposite shoreline (Village of Belle Terre). Said boathouse is located approximately 800 yards south of the mouth of Pirates Cove on the eastern shore.
Note: The uncertified areas in Conscience Bay are NOT included in this program.
ALL EXCEPTIONS REMAIN UNCERTIFIED.
3. Conditions To Be Met:
When not more than 0.75 inches of liquid precipitation is recorded in each of seven successive days, the area may be designated at "certified" (open) for the harvest of shellfish on the eighth day. The area may remain "certified" until more than 0.75 inches of precipitation is recorded within a 24-hour period.
4. Public Notification:
Daily open or closed recorded message: 631-451-6448
Each morning of the program, the Town of Brookhaven Division of Environmental Protection will determine the status of the conditional area. Beginning at 7:00 am, a recorded message announcing the status of the area as either "open" or "closed" can be accessed at 631-451-6448.
Until the "open" message is recorded for any particular day, the area remains uncertified and shellfish harvesting is prohibitied. Prior to harvesting in either area, it is the responsibility of each harvester to determine whether the "open" status message has been recorded. Harvesting may not begin before 7:00 am or sunrise (whichever is later).
A copy of the order designating the area as "conditionally certified" or "uncertified" will be posted in the NYSDEC Bureau of Marine Resources office in East Setauket. Telephone calls regarding the status of the areas may also be made to the Town of Brookhaven at 631-451-6455 after 9:00 am or to DEC at 631-444-0475 after 8:30 am on weekdays only.
5. Special Conditions:
Harvesting is permitted only between 7:00 am or sunrise (whichever is later) and sunset on any day when the area is officially designated as "open" for the harvest of shellfish.
This conditional shellfish harvesting program may be suspended, revised or terminated at any time if water quality is determined to be in contravention of the bacteriological standards for certified shellfish lands or if any other condition is found to exist which may be a threat to public health.
Map is for reference only.