Shellfishing Newsletter

NEW Shellfish Harvest Areas Mapper!

Shellfish, such as clams, oysters, mussels and scallops, are known as filter-feeders because of the way they obtain food. They are constantly moving water through their shells to consume food, such as plankton and algae that are suspended in the water column. In addition to food, any contaminants that exist in the water are also absorbed by the shellfish and can potentially be harmful to shellfish consumers.

Water quality monitoring is conducted year-round to determine and classify the health of our local waterbodies.

Shellfish can only be harvested from areas that are classified as sanitary for human consumption!

Before going shellfishing, please review the NYSDEC Public Shellfish Mapper, a new interactive map that identifies areas as closed and seasonally or temporarily closed to harvest shellfish.

The map also provides information about the water quality monitoring sites and areas where aquaculture leasing is taking place.

These maps are provided for reference only, please refer to the written descriptions of all shellfish closures for official designations.

For more information, visit Shellfishing or call 631-444-0492.

Emergency Rainfall Closures

When rainfall occurs over impervious surfaces such as buildings, paved roads and parking lots, it is unable to soak into the ground and creates runoff that drains into local waterways. Stormwater runoff that flows to the coastal environment degrades water quality by accumulating bacteria, chemicals, debris, as well as excessive sediment and nutrients into our bays and harbors.

Areas that receive more than 3 inches of rainfall over a 24-36 hour period will be temporarily closed for shellfish harvesting and will remain closed until water samples can be collected and confirm that water quality has improved. Depending on the extent of rainfall some closures can last from 4-7 days, and potentially longer if water quality isn’t improving.

You can reach the Shellfisheries Emergency Closure Information Line by calling 631-444-0480. A recorded message is available 24 hours a day, including weekends.

For more information, visit Shellfishing or call 631-444-0492.

Dering Harbor – Conditional Area Opens

When water quality parameters are met, an area can be ‘conditionally certified’, which simply means the waterbody is open on a provisional basis. In cooperation with the Town of Shelter Island a portion of Dering Harbor, has been conditionally certified to harvest shellfish.

This program will be in effect from November 20, 2017 through May 11, 2018 (both dates inclusive) between the hours of 9AM and sunset. Each morning, beginning at 8:45 a.m., a recorded telephone message will announce the status of the conditional area as open or closed. The telephone number of the recorded message is (631) 749-0400 (option 9, then option 7).

For more information, visit Conditional Shellfish Harvesting Programs or call 631-444-0492.