For Release: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
DEC Temporarily Closes Shellfishing Areas In Town of Huntington, Suffolk County
Shellfish Closures Follow Finding of Marine Biotoxin in Shellfish
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that shellfish harvesting in certain areas in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, has been temporarily closed due to the detection of a marine biotoxin that can impact public health.
he closure impacts approximately 2,200 acres and covers all of the shellfishing lands in Northport Bay, Centerport Harbor and Duck Island Harbor that lie east of a line extending from the southernmost point of West Beach (also known as Sand City Beach) to the northeast corner of the beach pavilion at the Town of Huntington's Crescent Beach, located on the southeastern shore of Huntington Bay. A map of the closed area can be found on the DEC website.
The closed areas are home to clams, mussels and oysters. All shellfishing in these lands is prohibited until further notice.
The precaution was taken after DEC determined that recent shellfish samples collected from both Northport Harbor and Northport Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The samples were tested as part of DEC's marine biotoxin monitoring program. In 2006, DEC implemented New York's first-ever closure of shellfish lands due to the detection of biotoxins in shellfish in Northport Harbor.
DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of laboratory analyses of shellfish and water samples that will be collected over the next few weeks. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard by calling (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closure. For additional information about DEC's shellfish monitoring program, contact DEC staff at (631) 444-0475 or visit the DEC's website.
