Shellfishing Shutdown in Southampton

Record rainfall on Long Island has done more than cause flooded roads in the Hamptons. Due to extremely heavy storm runoff, shellfishing in Southampton waters has been temporarily banned until August 22 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to the DEC, large amounts of “storm water runoff carry bacteria and viruses into the creeks, covers, harbors and bays and may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.”

Off-limits waters for harvesting include Moriches Bay, Shinnecock Bay, Flanders Bay and the creeks, ponds, bays and harbors in the Town of Southampton lying between Red Cedar Point and North Haven Peninsula—including Red Creek Pond, Squires Pond, Cold Spring Pond, the Sebonac Creeks, Wooley Pond, Fresh Pond, North Sea Harbor, Noyac Creek and Mill Pond—and all of Sag Harbor.