Regulatory Changes For Shellfish Harvest Areas
Recent changes in 6 NYCRR Part 41
Check DEC's website for the current Shellfish Closures and Temporary Shellfish Closures in effect.
Effective July 11, 2023, DEC revised Part 41 Sanitary Condition of Shellfish Lands to include the following updates. For more information, visit Marine Resources Regulatory Revisions for the full text of the rulemaking and details for the public comment period.
Recent changes have occurred for the following towns
Town of North Hempstead
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in North Hempstead.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Little Neck Bay and Manhasset Bay - Specified the portions of Little Neck Bay and Manhasset Bay within Nassau County as uncertified year-round. Long Island Sound, Hempstead Harbor, Crescent Beach, West Pond, Dosoris Pond, and Frost Creek - The existing subparagraphs and clauses were renumbered to reduce complexity and improve the readability of the regulations.
Town of Oyster Bay
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Oyster Bay (North Shore).
Oyster Bay Harbor: 13-acres of Oyster Bay Cove were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Long Island Sound, Hempstead Harbor, West Pond, Crescent Beach, Dosoris Pond, Frost Creek, Oyster Bay Harbor, Mill Neck Creek, and Cold Spring Harbor - The existing subparagraphs and clauses were renumbered to reduce complexity and improve the readability of the regulations.
- Oyster Bay Harbor - The closure line descriptions for the year-round uncertified and seasonally uncertified areas were clarified.
Town of Islip
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Islip.
Great South Bay:
- 7-acres of Great South Bay near Kismet were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
- 8-acres of Great South Bay near Saltaire were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Town of Brookhaven
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in northern Brookhaven.
Port Jefferson Harbor:
- 3-acres of Port Jefferson Harbor were downgraded from seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31 to uncertified year-round.
Stony Brook Harbor:
- 23-acres of Stony Brook Harbor had its seasonal closure dates shortened from May 1 through December 31 to June 1 through October 31.
- Less than 1-acre of Stony Brook Harbor had its seasonal closure dates extended from June 1 through October 31 to May 1 through December 31.
- 17-acres of Stony Brook Harbor were upgraded from seasonally uncertified June 1 through October 31 to certified year-round.
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in southern Brookhaven.
Long Island Sound:
- The year-round uncertified area of Long Island Sound near the LILCO Canal and Wading River Creek was expanded in size by 495 acres to 739 acres.
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Southern Brookhaven.
Moriches Bay:
- 26-acres of Moriches Bay were downgraded from certified year-round to uncertified year-round.
- Less than 1-acre of Moriches Bay adjacent to the boat basin (formerly Cerullo Brothers and Tadsens Fishing Stations) at Bay Avenue was downgraded from seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31 to uncertified year-round.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Moriches Bay - Removed ordinal indicators from closure dates.
Town of Southampton
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Southampton.
Shinnecock Bay: 70-acres of Tiana Bay were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Atlantic Ocean: 12-acres of the Atlantic Ocean were downgraded from certified year-round to uncertified year-round.
Cold Spring Pond:
- Less than 1-acre of Cold Spring Pond was downgraded from seasonally uncertified May 1 through November 30 to uncertified year-round.
- Less than 1-acre of Cold Spring Pond was upgraded from seasonally uncertified May 1 through November 30 to certified year-round.
North Sea Harbor:
- Less than 1-acre of North Sea Harbor was downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
- 50-acres of North Sea Harbor and Fish Cove were upgraded from uncertified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
- 34-acres of North Sea Harbor were upgraded from uncertified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Mecox Bay, Sagaponack Pond, Peconic River, Flanders Bay, Cold Spring Pond, Sebonac Creeks Complex, North Sea Harbor, Wooley Pond, Fresh Pond, Noyack Creek, Mill Creek, Genet Creek, and Sag Harbor - The existing subparagraphs and clauses were renumbered to reduce complexity and improve the readability of the regulations.
- Moriches Bay and Moneybogue Bay - Updated and clarified the description of reference points.
- Shinnecock Bay - Updated the descriptions of Tiana Bay and Tiana Creek.
- Mecox Bay - Removed ordinal indicators, corrected spelling, and clarified the descriptions for enforcement purposes.
- North Sea Harbor - Updated the description of a reference point in Davis Creek and Turtle Cove and clarified the closure description for enforcement purposes.
Town of East Hampton
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in East Hampton.
Northwest Creek and Northwest Harbor:
- 81-acres of Northwest Creek had their seasonal closure dates extended from May 1 through December 14 to May 1 through December 31.
- 92-acres of Northwest Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through December 31.
- 17-acres of Northwest Harbor, the Old Mile Hill Marina, and the unnamed creek adjacent to the old marina had their seasonal closure dates extended from May 1 through December 14 to May 1 through December 31.
Gardiners Bay: 30-acres of Gardiners Bay at the entrance to Accabonac Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through November 30.
Napeague Harbor: 25-acres of Napeague Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Montauk Lake: 16-acres of Montauk Lake (Montauk Harbor) were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Sag Harbor, Montauk Lake, Oyster Pond, Three Mile Harbor, Gardiners Bay, Hog Creek, Napeague Bay, Northwest Harbor, Northwest Creek, Accabonac Harbor, and Georgica Pond - The existing subparagraphs and clauses were renumbered to reduce complexity and improve the readability of the regulations.
- Northwest Creek and Northwest Harbor - Clarified the closure line descriptions of the seasonally uncertified areas for enforcement purposes.
- Hog Creek - Updated the description of a reference point for the seasonally uncertified area.
Town of Shelter Island
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Shelter Island.
Coecles Harbor:
- 94-acres of Coecles Harbor near the Coecles Harbor marina were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally May 1 through October 31.
- 151-acres of Coecles Harbor near Shelter Island Town's Anchorage area in Coecles Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
West Neck Harbor: 90-acres of West Neck Harbor near Shelter Island Town's Anchorage area in West Neck Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Town of Southold
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Southold
Shelter Island Sound: 18-acres of Gull Pond had its seasonal closure dates shortened from April 1 through December 14 to April 1 through November 30.
Southold Bay: 5-acres of Hippodrome Pond were downgraded from certified year-round to uncertified year-round.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Long Island Sound - The latitude and longitude of the STP outfall was updated, and the N.O.A.A. Nautical Chart reference was clarified.
- Mattituck Creek - Updated the description of closure line reference points for enforcement purposes.
- Hashamomuck Pond - Updated the description of a closure line reference point in Long Creek.
- Plum Gut - Updated the descriptions of closure line reference points for enforcement purposes.
- Little Peconic Bay - Corrected a spelling error and clarified the closure description.
Town of Riverhead
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Riverhead.
Flanders Bay: 4-acres of Flanders Bay at the entrance to Kings Creek were downgraded from certified year-round to seasonally uncertified May 1 through October 31.
Town of Smithtown
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Smithtown.
Stony Brook Harbor:
- 23-acres of Stony Brook Harbor had its seasonal closure dates shortened from May 1 through December 31 to June 1 through October 31.
- Less than 1-acre of Stony Brook Harbor had its seasonal closure dates extended from June 1 through October 31 to May 1 through December 31.
- 17-acres of Stony Brook Harbor were upgraded from seasonally uncertified June 1 through October 31 to certified year-round.
Town of Huntington
Check here for the current shellfish closure regulation descriptions and reference maps in Huntington.
Northport Bay and Northport Harbor: 36-acres of the entrance to Northport Harbor were downgraded from certified year-round to uncertified year-round.
Technical Changes to Existing Regulations Include:
- Centerport Harbor - Clarified the closure line description for the seasonally uncertified area.
Division of Marine Resources
123 Kings Park Blvd. (Nissequogue River State Park)
Kings Park, NY 11754