The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporally closed all of the Great South Bay, including its tributaries west of the Robert Moses Causeway, to shellfishing following large storm water runoff from Tuesday and Wednesday's storms.
The DEC closed the areas to shellfishing effective on Sept. 5 due to the large rainfall our area experienced the last two days. The DEC said the closure was taken to protect public health.
"Extraordinary volumes of storm water runoff carry bacteria and viruses into the creeks, coves, harbors and bays and may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food," a statement said from the DEC.
The statement said the DEC would reopen the area to fishing as soon as possible following the testing of waters around the area prove to be safe. The temporary stoppage is in place until at least Sept. 11.
The DEC also closed parts of the Mount Sinai Harbor in Brookhaven Township and the South Oyster Bay in the Hempstead and Oyster Bay Townships in Nassau County.
Suffolk County has, likewise, all of Babylon Town's beaches on an advisory against bathing following the rain event.
For more detailed descriptions of the closed area, the public may call the Bureau of Marine Resources office during regular business hours at (631) 444-0475, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
