2/10/14, 11:12 PMSouthampton News - Warnings About Seafood From Shinnecock Bay Are Expanded - 27east

http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/General-Interest/385213/Warnings-About-Seafood-From-Shinnecock-Bay-Are-Expanded

READ PRESS NEWSPAPERS | BUY PHOTOS | NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES | ADVERTISE | CONTACT

> All Southampton News

> All East Hampton News

> Classifieds

> Real Estate

> Calendar

Warnings About Seafood From Shinnecock Bay AreExpandedPublication: The Southampton PressBy Michael Wright May 25, 2011 8:46 AM

May 25, 2011 10:25 AM

WELCOME | LOG OUT

RELATED ARTICLES

> Report Highlights Water Quality Issues OnLong Island Oct 23, 2013 10:33 AM

> Environmentalists Combine Forces To TackleHigh Nitrogen Levels, Pollutants Oct 22, 20135:14 PM

> Red Tide Chases Baymen From Bays LikeShinnecock Aug 28, 2013 9:02 AM

> Toxic 'Rust Tide' Makes An Unwelcome ReturnTo The Peconic Estuary, Local Bays Aug 20, 20133:48 PM

> Red Tide Presents New Threat To Humans AndFish May 25, 2011 11:41 AM

more

East End residents and visitors are being warned bystate officials not to eat any shellfish or certain predatorsof shellfish harvested from western Shinnecock Bay,because of high concentrations of toxic algae that areblooming in the bay.

The state this week expanded its warning against eatingshellfish from western Shinnecock to include warningsagainst eating conch, whelk, or the so-called “tamale” ofcrabs or lobsters taken from the area as well.

A ban on the harvesting of shellfish from the waters westof the Ponquogue Bridge was put in place last week aftera species of a bloom of red algae that produces abiotoxin that can be harmful, or even fatal, to humansreached higher levels than had ever been detected in thebay.

The algae, Alexandrium, naturally produces a toxin thatcan cause temporary paralysis in humans and is known to have been responsible for the deaths ofat least two people in Alaska in recent years. The level of Alexandrium, one of a handful of red algaespecies whose blooms are dubbed “red tide,” has led the state to close shellfishing in HuntingtonHarbor on Long Island as well as in parts of Massachusetts and Maine in recent years. This is thefirst time that concentrations of the algae have been dense enough in Shinnecock Bay to closeshellfishing.

Shellfish taken from the eastern portions of Shinnecock Bay and from the Peconics and GardinersBay are safe to eat.

It is expected that the harvest ban and consumption warnings will be lifted by early summer as thealgae bloom fades with warming water temperatures.

MICHAEL WRIGHT

1. Westhampton Beach Police Officer SuspendedWithout Pay After Stalking Arrest 30 comments

2. 27east.com To Implement Metered SubscriptionPlan 325 comments

3. Hampton Bays Fire District Treasurer's Salary HasDoubled Since Taking Office 65 comments

4. UPDATE: Fourth Health Aide Charged WithMistreating Patients Pleads Not Guilty; Posts$10,000 Bail 16 comments

5. UPDATE: Snow And Sleet Expected To Freeze OnRoadways 15 comments

6. Police Investigating Death In Montauk 3 comments

7. Monday Storm Dumps Up To 7 Inches, SchoolsDelay Openings On Tuesday 30 comments

8. UPDATE: Second Defendant Pleads Not Guilty InEastport Home Invasion Murder 7 comments

NEW MEMBERS:SeanDwyer, patisands, AnthonyAgliata

RECENT COMMENT:> "Please check web site Friday evening for the "ALLGO" for Saturday February 15. The site isImagination Nature- just add dot com to go..." MORE

> "The republicans cut funding; Not once but several times.Embassy security wasn't a priority.Until Benghazi...." MORE

HOME | NEWS | COMMUNITY | SPORTS | HAMPTONS LIFE | REAL ESTATE | CALENDAR | FOOD | BUSINESS | CLASSIFIEDS SEARCH