Long Island, NY - April 1, 2014 - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has closed several shellfish harvesting areas in towns in Nassau and Suffolk counties effective Monday, March 31, 2014. These areas have been closed to shellfish harvesting because of the heavy rainfall that fell on Long Island from Saturday through Monday, March 29 - 31.
Heavy rainfall produces increased amounts of stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff can carry bacteria and other pathogens into adjacent marine waters adversely affecting water quality. Shellfish harvested from areas with adversely impacted water quality have an increased potential to be hazardous for use as food.
These are temporary closures. Once DEC has determined that the conditions no longer exist that may make shellfish hazardous for use as food, the closures will be rescinded.
For further information and to learn which areas are closed, please visit the Temporary Shellfish Closure web page on the DEC web site.
