For Release: Monday, August 28, 2006
DEC Temporarily Closes Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has designated a number of shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties as temporarily closed to shellfishing. These temporary emergency closures are in response to the extraordinary stormwater runoff caused by the heavy rainfall that occurred on August 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2006.
The following areas were designated as uncertified on Monday, August 28, and the harvest of shellfish is temporarily prohibited through September 4:
- Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay (south shore): All of Hempstead Bay and South Oyster Bay, and their tributaries;
- Towns of Babylon and Islip: All of Great South Bay lying westerly of the Robert Moses Causeway bridges;
- Towns of Islip and Brookhaven (south shore): The northern portions of Great South Bay, Nicoll Bay, and Patchogue Bay; and all of Bellport Bay and their tributaries.
- Town of Southampton: All the creeks, bays and harbors within the Town of Southampton between Red Cedar Point and North Haven Peninsula (including, Cold Spring Pond, the Sebonac Creeks, Wooley Pond, Fresh Pond, North Sea Harbor, Noyac Creeks, Mill Creek).
- Town of Southold: A portion of Cutchogue Harbor; and a portion of Southold Bay.
This action was taken to protect public health following the unusually heavy rainfall event that affected Long Island throughout Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, August25 through August 28, 2006. Rainfall exceeded three inches in the affected areas. The extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.
DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of bacteriological analyses of water samples that will be collected during the week. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard at (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.
