County Issues Shellfish Warning For North Fork Creek

MATTITUCK, NY — Suffolk County has issued a shellfish warning for a Mattituck creek after mussels tested positive for a marine biotoxin, officials said.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed James Creek in Matittuck for the harvest of carnivorous gastropods.

Carnivorous gastropods, such as whelks, conchs, and moon snails, feed on shellfish and may accumulate biotoxins at levels that are hazardous to human health.

Suffolk County Health Commissioner James Tomarken issued a warning Friday to residents and visitors to the North Fork to avoid harvesting and eating shellfish in James Creek in Mattituck until further notice.

The warning follows the DEC's announcement of a temporary ban on the harvesting of carnivorous gastropods in James Creek due to the detection of a marine biotoxin in shellfish.

The action was taken after the DEC determined that mussels collected from James Creek tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

“Though James Creek was already closed for harvesting of shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, from May 1 to November 30 due to bacteriological concerns, this new ban prohibits harvesting of three gastropods: whelks, conchs, and moon snails, which had until present been allowed for harvest,” said Dr. Tomarken. “Our concern is for the health of the public.”

Symptoms of PSP will depend on the amount of toxin ingested, and can progress from tingling of the lips and tongue, to numbness of the face, neck and limbs, loss of muscular control, followed by difficulty breathing, the county said.

Anyone who has experienced any of theoe symptoms after eating shellfish should call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.

Maps of all affected areas and information about temporary closures are available on the DEC's website.

Patch file photo.