Shellfishing Temporarily Banned in Huntington Waters

Shellfishing is temporarily banned in Huntington waters, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced Thursday, due to the presence of a dangerous biotoxin.

The emergency closure came after shellfish samples taken from Huntington Harbor and Northport Harbor tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

The samples were tested as part of DEC's marine biotoxin monitoring program.
Carnivorous gastropods (whelks, conchs, moon snails) feed on shellfish and may accumulate biotoxins at levels that are hazardous to human health.

The DEC will continue to monitor for the presence of biotoxins in shellfish at 18 monitoring locations around Long Island and implement closures as necessary to protect public health.

The DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of laboratory analyses that will be conducted over the next few weeks. A recorded message advising harvesters of the status of temporarily closed shellfish areas may be heard by calling (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closure.

Maps showing the affected Temporary Emergency Shellfish Closures areas are available on DEC's website.