Shellfish Harvesters and Dealers in the Towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southampton, Southold, and Shelter Island.
DEC-Shellfisheries collected water samples on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 in several of the areas that DEC designated as temporarily uncertified (closed) on October 26, 2021 and October 27, 2021 after the extraordinary rainfall event in excess of three (3) inches in Nassau and Suffolk Counties from October 25 through October 27. Sample test results indicate that several areas can be re-opened to the harvest of shellfish.
Effective at sunrise, Thursday, November 11, 2021 the following areas can be re-opened to the harvest of shellfish, except as described in 6NYCRR, Part 41, “Sanitary Condition of Shellfish Lands.”
Accordingly, the harvest of shellfish from the following areas is permitted:
Town of Brookhaven: All the normally certified areas of Moriches Bay.
Towns of Riverhead and Southampton: All the normally certified areas of Flanders Bay lying east of a line extending due south from the southernmost point of land at Simmons Point (Riverhead) to the northernmost point of land on the eastern side of the mouth of Birch Creek (Southampton).
Town of Southampton: All the normally certified areas of Red Creek Pond, Squires Pond, and Sag Harbor.
Town of Southold: All the normally certified tributaries of Orient Harbor including Spring Pond, Dam Pond, Oyster Ponds Creek, and Hallock Bay.
Town of Shelter Island: All the normally certified areas of West Neck Harbor and its tributaries.
Note: All other areas that were designated as uncertified for the harvest of shellfish on October 26, 2021 and October 27, 2021 and have not been rescinded, remain closed for the harvest of shellfish.
A copy of the signed order re-opening all the normally certified areas in the embayments listed above and maps showing the local areas which remain closed are inserted below.
Information about temporary closures is also available from the recorded message at 631-444-0480 and the DEC webpage at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7765.html