Marine Biotoxins In Shellfish Spark Expanded Shinnecock Bay Harvesting Closures: DEC

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced additional Shinnecock Bay closures due to marine biotoxins.

As of Tuesday, May 5,Shinnecock Bay and its tributaries lying west of Ponquogue Bridge are closed for harvesting of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods, due to elevated levels of marine biotoxins, the DEC said.

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The action is taken as "a precaution to protect public health due to the presence of marine biotoxins in shellfish and the potential presence in carnivorous gastropods which feed on shellfish," the DEC said..

The areas will remained closed to all recreational and commercial harvesters until a determination is made that marine biotoxins are no longer present at levels that may make shellfish and carnivorous gastropods hazardous for use as food, the DEC added.

The closure is an expansion that supersedes the closure of April 8, which closed Shinnecock Bay and its tributaries lying west of a line extending southerly from the southernmost point of land at Pine Neck Point to the northernmost point of land at the end of Triton Lane, the DEC said.

Information about temporary closures and re-openings will be available on a recorded message available at: 631-444-0480 and the DEC website here.