DEC: Shellfishing Off Limits for Labor Day Week

243 acres in a section of Port Jefferson Harbor will be off-limits to shellfishing for the holiday week in an effort to to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfishassociated with increased boating activity in shellfishing waters.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, the area will be off limits for the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Saturday, Aug. 31 through Friday, Sept. 6.

“As a precautionary measure, DEC annually closes shellfishing in these waters during the Labor Day weekend because of the heavy increase in recreational boating,” Commissioner Joe Martens said. 

“We strongly encourage boaters to act responsibly and be aware of the no-discharge zones in Port Jefferson Harbor, Oyster Bay Harbor and the Sand Hole and to use pump-out facilities to prevent impacts to our natural resources and protect public health."

The Town of Brookhaven operates a pump-out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor.Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays only.  Boaters may contact the Town’s pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 73.

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on Saturday, September 7.  If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas to harvesting earlier than September 7.