It’s Scallop Season!

EAST END: The opening of scallop season was impacted by Hurricane Sandy, with the State Department of Environmental Conservation postponing scallop harvesting in many local waters. The bay scallop season was scheduled to open in New York State on November 5, but temporary emergency shellfish closures were put in effect through November 13 in all certified shellfishing areas, with the exception of Long Island Sound (east of Matinecock Point), the Atlantic Ocean, Gardiners Bay, Smithtown Bay and Block Island Sound.

The DEC has been steadily reopening areas ahead of November 13 as the waters are tested. As of press time, the below East End waters are open to shellfish harvesting.

Town of Riverhead: All the normally certified shellfish lands in
Flanders Bay.

Town of Southampton: All the normally certified shellfish lands in Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay and Little Peconic Bay, lying westerly of a line extending southeasterly from the easternmost point of Cedar Beach Point, on Great Hog Neck (Town of Southold), to the northernmost point of Jessup Neck (Town of Southampton). All the normally certified shellfish lands in Moriches Bay and Narrow Bay.

Town of Southold: All of the normally certified shellfish lands in Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay (including Cutchogue Harbor) and Hog Neck Bay, lying westerly of a line extending southeasterly from the easternmost point of Jessup Neck (Town of Southampton); and, all the normally certified areas along the northern shore of Fishers Island, including Hay Harbor, West Harbor and East Harbor.

According to the state DEC, it is likely that the closures for the remaining areas will extend beyond November 13. Check out www.dec.ny.gov for additional updates as they become available.