DEC Announces Annual Temporary Closure of Three Shellfishing Areas

Additional Shellfish-Growing Areas Remain Closed after Recent Storm

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the annual temporary closure of three shellfishing areas on the north shore of Long Island during the upcoming Labor Day holiday period. DEC imposes these closures during busy holidays to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfish associated with increased boating activity. Boaters are reminded to use pump-out facilities to help protect water quality.

"During the upcoming holiday weekend, DEC encourages New Yorkers to get outside and spend time in nature and on the water. To safeguard public health, DEC is closing three popular boating areas to shellfishing for this brief and busy period," Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. "Recreational boaters are advised to obey no-discharge zones and use pump-out facilities to mitigate health and safety impacts in these coastal waters."

DEC is designating the following areas on the north shore of Long Island as closed to the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Friday, Aug. 30:

• 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay Harbor, town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County;
• 50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole, town of Huntington, Suffolk County; and
• 347 acres in northern Port Jefferson Harbor, town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County.

Since 1995, DEC has designated these areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. During peak holiday periods, discharges from marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish unsafe for human consumption.

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on Thursday, Sept. 5. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas earlier to harvesting. A recorded message advising the public about temporary closures of any shellfishing areas in New York State is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message also advises harvesters when such areas have reopened. Information, including maps showing the affected areas, is available on DEC's website.

Additionally, other shellfish growing areas remain closed due to the impacts of recent storms:

• Stony Brook Harbor (towns of Smithtown and Brookhaven) - Entire growing area; and
• Cold Spring Pond (town of Southampton) - Western portion, half of growing area.

Boaters should be aware that Oyster Bay Harbor, the Sand Hole, and Port Jefferson Harbor are designated as no-discharge zones in their entirety. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in these areas should utilize the following pump-out facilities:

• Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor, town of Oyster Bay): One pump-out boat is operated by the town of Oyster Bay at no cost to boaters. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Contact the pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 9 or by cell phone at (516) 375-9864. In addition, the town provides two pump-out stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pump-out in the town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park.
• The Sand Hole (Lloyd Neck, town of Huntington): Although there are no facilities within the Sand Hole, boaters should contact Town of Oyster Bay pump-out boat as noted above. There also is a land-based pump-out facility at Powle's Marine Center in Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, boaters traveling from town of Huntington waters can request the services of the town's pump-out boat (no fee) by calling on marine radio VHF channel 9. There are also a number of land-based pump-out facilities at marinas in Northport Harbor and Huntington Harbor; and
• Port Jefferson Harbor (town of Brookhaven): The town of Brookhaven operates a pump-out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boaters may contact the town's pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 73. In addition, the town provides a pump-out station on its transient dock, east of the boat launch ramp, west of the charter fishing vessels.

A full list of No Discharge Zones in New York State, including other Long Island waters, can be found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website. View the Temporary Shellfish Closures maps on DEC's website.

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