New York Environmental Officials Reopen Shellfishing Areas

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the reopening of various shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. DEC closed 36 coves, harbors and bays earlier in the week following record setting rainfall.

The closures were implemented as a precautionary measure to protect shellfish consumers. Extraordinary volumes of storm water runoff carry bacteria and viruses into the creeks, coves, harbors and bays, and may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.

Many closed areas are now reopened or will reopen. A few areas will remain closed into early next week. DEC reopened these areas as soon as possible based on the results of bacteriological analyses of water samples that the Bureau of Marine Resources collected, which demonstrated that water quality is suitable for the harvest of shellfish for human consumption.

Source: New York Department of Environmental Conservation