The extremely heavy rainfall and extraordinary amounts of stormwater runoff and localized street flooding associated with the rainfall event of July 16, 2023, has resulted in conditions which may cause shellfish to be hazardous for use as food. To protect public health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Shellfisheries Section is temporarily closing the following areas noted below to the harvest of shellfish.
Effective immediately, the following areas are closed to the harvest of shellfish:
1. Towns of Brookhaven (south shore) and Southampton: All that area of Moriches Bay and its tributaries lying east of Smith Point Bridge and lying west of the Jessup Lane Bridge in Westhampton Beach.
2. Town of Southampton: All that area of Shinnecock Bay, Cold Spring Pond, North Sea Harbor, Noyac Creek, and Sag Harbor and its tributaries.
A scanned copy of the signed closure order and maps of the affected areas in your town are attached.
Information about temporary closures and re-openings will be available on a recorded message available at: 631-444-0480 and the DEC website at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7765.html
You may also call the DEC-Bureau of Shellfisheries at 631-444-0492 during regular office hours M-F 8:00 to 4:00.
Signed CLOSURE ORDER 7-17-2023
