DEC Reopens Closed Shellfishing Areas

The Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the reopening of several shellfishing sites, which were closed after Hurricane Sandy to protect the public health.

The DEC stated that "the prolonged strong easterly winds, full moon and storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy caused significant coastal flooding that inundated septic systems and wastewater treatment systems in some low-lying areas." and that "when water quality in the enclosed creeks, coves, harbors and bays is adversely affected by such discharges, shellfish in those areas have an increased potential to be hazardous for use as food."

According to the DEC, areas including those in Southampton, Southold and Riverhead have reopened for shellfish harvesting through Nov. 13.

The following is a list of reopened shellfishing sites.

Town of Riverhead: All the normally certified shellfish lands in Flanders Bay.

Town of Southampton: All the normally certified shellfish lands in Moriches Bay and Narrow Bay and all of the normally certified shellfish lands in Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay and Little Peconic Bay lying westerly of the northern most point of Jessups Neck,excluding all enclosed creeks, harbors, coves and tributaries along the north shore of the Town of Southampton.

Town of Southold: All the normally certified shellfish lands in Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay, Cutchogue Harbor and Hog Neck Bay, lying westerly of the Cedar Beach Point and excluding all enclosed creeks, harbors, coves and tributaries along the south shore of the Town of Southold and, all the normally certified areas along the northern shore of Fishers Island, including Hay Harbor, West Harbor and East Harbor.

All of the remaining enclosed creeks, coves, harbors, bays and their tributaries in Nassau and Suffolk County, not identified, the DEC said, will remain closed for the harvest of shellfish, including bay scallops through Tuesday, November 13.