For Release: Thursday, October 9, 2008
DEC Reopens Shellfishing in Parts of Hempstead Bay
Water Quality Improvements Result in 1,100 Acres Being Open to Year-Round Harvest
Improved water quality has led the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to re-open 1,100 acres of shellfish beds year-round in Hempstead Bay, Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The change will allow some shellfish beds that had previously been uncertified or only seasonally certified to be opened year-round for the first time in more than 10 years, providing more opportunities for commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting. The change takes effect Oct. 15, 2008.
"Shellfishing has a long history and tradition on Long Island and it is good news that the water quality in the East Bay portion of Hempstead Bay will allow this important economic and recreational activity to take place all year," Commissioner Grannis said. "We will continue to work with municipalities like the Town of Hempstead to find ways to further improve the water quality in the region and closely monitor the health of our state's shellfish beds."
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said, "Shellfishing is part of Hempstead Town's way of life and our identity. Working closely with the state DEC and federal officials, we have taken aggressive steps to curtail non-point and point source pollution of local waterways. We are gratified that our efforts have been rewarded with cleaner bays."
Each year, DEC collects and examines thousands of water samples to make sure the shellfish growing areas are clean enough to allow the harvest of uncontaminated clams, oysters, mussels and scallops. If water quality is not up to New York State and federal standards, DEC closes the area to shellfish harvesting.
DEC's Bureau of Marine Resources staff have conducted analyses of water quality data from samples that are regularly collected and examined by staff in the Town of Hempstead's Department of Conservation and Waterways from the East Bay section of Hempstead Bay. The results of the analyses determined that water quality in two parts of the East Bay section have improved and meet the bacteriological criteria for certified shellfish areas throughout the year. One section that will now be reopened was previously closed all year, while the other section had been seasonally certified from April 1 through November 30. A map of the newly certified areas is attached.
DEC proposed the recertification of these shellfish beds in June 2008, and the regulation making the change final will be published Oct. 15 in the New York State Register. DEC will continue to routinely monitor these shellfish beds with the Town of Hempstead and advise if any temporary emergency closures are needed, as is currently done following large rains or other occasional events when water quality could be temporarily compromised.
New York State has a wide variety of shellfish available for harvest: hard clams or quahogs, blue mussels, razor clams, soft clams, oysters and bay scallops. In addition to recreational harvesters, there are approximately 1,700 commercial shellfish harvesters licensed in New York. In 2007, the value of the shellfish harvested in New York State (before market) was $22 million.
A map of the newly opened shellfishing areas (PDF, 140 kb) can be downloaded.
