Experts Search For Answers To Peconic Bay Scallop Disaster

NORTH FORK, NY — Facing the worst devastation to the Peconic Bay scallop season in more than a decade, experts are searching desperately for answers.

Phones were ringing at seafood shops and restaurants across the North Fork and East End Monday with hungry diners hoping to celebrate the first day of Peconic Bay scallop season.

But for those who've waited months for that much-heralded first taste of sweet goodness, the news was grim: This year's season is, quite simply, a bust.

And later this week, the Peconic Estuary Program published their thoughts on what may have happened: "During the past week, we have received inquiries regarding the current situation of Peconic Bay Scallops in our waters," a post on the organization's website said. "We at the Peconic Estuary Program are deeply saddened by the scallop die-off that has transpired in the Peconic Bays. We have been aware of this situation and are working with our scientific partners to gain a better understanding of why the recent die-off of adult scallop populations occurred."

This event likely took place several weeks or months ago and only appears to have affected adult scallop populations, PEP said.

"Initial surveys by our partners at Cornell Cooperative Extension, a review of Suffolk County surface water quality data from January to October 2019, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) surface water quality data indicate that this occurrence was not associated with a harmful algal bloom like we have seen in years past," the PEP report said. "There have, however, been higher water temperatures throughout the Peconic region for the past two years — sometimes exceeding 80°F. There have also been low dissolved oxygen levels — a parameter often affected by high nutrients in the water. However, at this time we do not know the exact cause of this die-off."

Unfortunately, the PEP said, the collapse of adult bay scallop populations is more complicated than just the health of local waters.

"Increasing global ocean temperatures and warmer water will be a continuing concern as we begin to feel the effects of a warming climate. Warmer waters are more vulnerable to the effects of nutrient pollution — this is possibly reflected by the continued hypoxic and anoxic conditions in the western Bay at the USGS water quality monitoring station in Flanders Bay. Many estuary ecosystems are changing from climate change and this is also affecting regular predator-prey cycles."

No matter what the cause, the die-off has signaled economic disaster for many baymen.

Scallop fisherman Kevin Mellenburg, out on opening day, reflected on the turn of events. "This is the worst harvest season we've seen in the last decade," he said. With so few scallops to be had, he said, "Prices will be through the roof." He got about three bushels Monday, he said, and his take was one of the top three highest on Peconic Bay, he said.

Kathie Cibulski and her fiance Henry Romanowski of Laurel confirmed the bad news after a day out on the water. "There are a lot of dead shells out there. It's not like it usually is." On Monday, she said, Romanowski brought in about 3.5 bushes. "Usually on opening day he can get up to about 10 or so," she said.

Speculation is running rampant on the reason for the dearth of Peconic Bay scallops. Maybe it's blowfish, or chemicals in the water, Cibulski said. "Nobody really knows. Last year was a pretty good season and the year before that, it was excellent," she said.

Many of the fishermen who usually go out on the first day were not seen Monday, she said; one had even bought a new motor for his boat but still wasn't on the water. "Quite a few of the guys were not out there yesterday, so you knew it wasn't going to be good," she said.

On Tuesday, she added, Romanowski had been out since 6:30 a.m. in the morning and by 11 a.m., he was still working on his first bushel. "It's really bad," she said.

Keith Reda, general manager at Braun Seafood Market Co.,, said customers should call ahead because there were so few scallops coming in. "It's the worst opening day we've had in 15 years," he added.

On Monday, only about 30 lbs. of scallops came in, Reda added. Normally on opening day, that number is about 500 lbs., he said. When asked what he thought the reason might be, Reda said: "I have no idea. Mother Nature is a crazy, crazy thing. I think maybe sometimes, she just takes care of herself. We'll have to see what happens again next year."

The first 10 lbs. of scallops, priced at about $30/lb., were put out in the seafood shop Tuesday morning and were gone in the first half hour, he said. Of the price, Reda said, "I can only see it going up from here."

The blow is a huge one for the local economy, Reda agreed.

Even in Cape Cod and Nantucket, where scallops similar to the Peconic Bay variety are found, prices are very high. "There are just not a lot of scallops to be had," Reda said. Daunted fisherman who might have headed north for scallops have decided to do something else, such as clamming, to make ends meet, he said.

Southold Fish Market owner Charlie Manwaring was dismayed by opening day. "It sucks," he said. "I got a few lbs. in but nothing, really. It was horrible this year. Some of the guys that went out, the best guys, got only two or three bags."

Manwaring said he believes the scallops died off sometime during the summer when the water got warmer; some bugs have been found, though, which, he said, leads hm to believe that the die-off was not due to any sort of issues with the water itself. "I think they spawned, the water got warm, and they died," he said.

The lack of scallops will trick down to effect the entire East End economy, Manwaring said. "You have people coming from the city for the scallops. Everyone will be impacted — restaurants, farm stands, breweries wineries. Right down to the guy making egg sandwiches for the fishermen in the morning and those who sell the bleach we use to clean the place down. People don't realize how much money is going to be lost because we don't have them this year."

On Tuesday, Manwaring said, he didn't see any boats out on the bay at all. Last year, he said, he had 200 bushels in the shop on opening morning, with just as much the second day and so much on the third day that there was a need to catch up.

But not this year. "It's an eerie feeling when, on opening day of scallop season, I decide not to be in the shop and go out hunting. That's the first time in 15 years," Manwaring said.

He added: "It's horrible. But we've seen this before and hopefully, we'll bounce back next year."