Temporary Ban On Shellfish, Carnivorous Gastropod Harvesting: DEC

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced a temporary ban on the harvesting of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods in western Shinnecock Bay, due to the detection of a marine biotoxin in shellfish.

The temporary closure was effective immediately, beginning on Wednesday; the closure was implemented to protect public health, the DEC said.

Filter-feeding shellfish, including clams, oysters, mussels and scallops, can accumulate marine biotoxins, which can cause illness in shellfish consumers, the DEC said. Carnivorous gastropods, such as whelks, conchs, and moon snails, feed on shellfish and can also accumulate biotoxins at levels that are hazardous to human health, the DEC added.

In Southampton, the portion of Shinnecock Bay lying west of Pine Neck Point in East Quogue, and east of the Post Lane Bridge in Quogue was temporarily closed to the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods, a release from the DEC said.

Approximately 1,400 acres in western Shinnecock Bay were affected by the closure. The same area was closed last year on May 4, 2017, the DEC said.

The DEC determined that mussels collected from biotoxin monitoring sites in the affected area tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning, the release said. The mussel sample was collected and tested by DEC as part of the agency's marine biotoxin monitoring programs; the DEC will continue to check for the presence of biotoxins in shellfish at other monitoring locations and implement closures as necessary to protect public health, the DEC said.

The DEC said it will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of laboratory analyses that will be conducted over the next few weeks, the release said.

A recorded message advising harvesters of the status of temporarily closed shellfishing areas may be heard by calling (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.

Maps of the affected areas and information about these temporary shellfish closures are available on DEC's website; information about marine biotoxins and paralytic shellfish poisoning is also available, the DEC said.

Photo courtesy NYSDEC shellfish lab.