For Release: Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Three Mile Harbor Closed to Shellfishing for Fireworks Weekend
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced that the entire shellfish growing area of Three Mile Harbor in the Town of East Hampton, Suffolk County, will be designated as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish throughout the 2004 Harbor for Boys and Girls Fireworks Event weekend. The uncertified designation will be in effect from sunrise Saturday, July 17, 2004, through Wednesday, July 21, 2004, which means no shellfish can be taken from Three Mile Harbor during this period. DEC expects to re-open the area for shellfishing on Thursday, July 22, 2004.
"Because this annual festival is expected to draw hundreds of boaters again this year, including many staying overnight, these shellfish lands are being temporarily closed to commercial and recreational harvesters to protect public health," Commissioner Crotty said. "We strongly encourage all boaters to use pump out facilities, which will help to protect and maintain water quality in this area. As in past years, DEC expects that the closure will only last five days, at which time, normal shellfishing activities can safely resume."
During the past 11 years, Three Mile Harbor has been temporarily closed to shellfishing on the day of the fireworks event and for four days afterward. DEC enacted the temporary closure because of the increased potential for contamination of shellfish beds by the discharge of sewage from the large number of recreational boats that gather for the popular event.
Discharges of fecal material from marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish hazardous for human consumption.
Boaters should be aware that all the waters in the Peconic-Gardiners Bay estuary, including Three Mile Harbor, are designated as a No Discharge Zone. Boaters in these areas are required to use pump out facilities when they empty their holding tanks. The Town of East Hampton operates a pump out boat at no fee for the boaters. The town's pump out boat can be contacted using marine radio VHF channel 73.
A taped telephone message advising the public of the status of this or any temporarily closed shellfish area may be heard 24 hours every day at (631) 444-0480. A message will also be provided at the East Hampton Town, Department of Natural Resources Office at (631) 324-6393. Information about early re-openings or extensions of closures will be made available at these numbers.
Written descriptions and color-coded maps of these and other shellfish closures can be found on the DEC website.
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