News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Maureen Wren, 518-402-8000

DEC Announces Temporary Closure of Three Shellfishing Areas

North Shore Areas to be Closed Starting Saturday, Expected to Reopen September 4

ALBANY, NY (08/27/2008; 1513)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the temporary closure of three shellfishing areas on the north shore of Long Island during the upcoming Labor Day holiday. These closures are put in place annually during the busy holiday to protect public health from potential contamination of shellfish associated with increased boating activity in shellfishing waters. Boaters are reminded to utilize pumpout facilities to help protect these waters.

"Due to the anticipated large increase in recreational boaters during the Labor Day weekend, DEC has taken precautionary measures and closed some of the most heavily traveled waters," Commissioner Grannis. "We strongly encourage boaters to act responsibly and adhere to the no-discharge zone in Port Jefferson Harbor and to use pumpout facilities to prevent impacts to our natural resources and protect public health."

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 a marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish unsafe for human consumption.

DEC will designate the following areas, all on the north shore of Long Island, as off limits for the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Saturday, Aug. 30.

• 50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County.
• 243 acres in a section of Port Jefferson Harbor in Brookhaven, Suffolk County.
• 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County.

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on Thursday, Sept. 4.

In cooperation with local bay constables, DEC plans to conduct observations of the three closed shellfishing areas and other overnight recreational anchoring areas to monitor the number of boats present. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas to harvesting earlier than Sept. 4.

A recorded message advising the public of any shellfishing areas in New York State that are temporarily closed is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message will also advise harvesters when such areas have reopened. Written descriptions and color-coded maps of these and other short duration shellfish closures will soon be posted at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/35917.html on the DEC website.

Boaters should be aware that Port Jefferson Harbor is designated as a no-discharge zone. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in this harbor and the other two restricted areas should utilize the following pumpout facilities:

Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor):

One pumpout boat is operated by the Town of Oyster Bay at no fee to boaters. Contact the pumpout boat via marine radio VHF channel 9. In addition, the town provides two pumpout stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pumpout in the town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park.

The Sand Hole:

Although there are no facilities within the Sand Hole, boaters should contact Town of Oyster Bay pumpout boat as noted above. There also is a land-based pumpout facility at Powles Marine Center in Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, boaters traveling from Town of Huntington waters can request the services of the Town of Huntington pumpout boat (no fee) by calling on marine radio VHF channel 9. There are also several land-based pumpout facilities in Northport Harbor and Huntington Harbor.

Port Jefferson Harbor:

The Town of Brookhaven operates a pumpout boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Boaters may contact the pumpout boat via marine radio VHF channel 73. In addition, there is a land-based pumpout station at the Town of Brookhaven's Port Jefferson marina (no fee).