Suffolk County’s authority is limited to the conveyance of underwater land for shellfish cultivation, and does not extend to the regulation of shellfish aquaculture activities. Leaseholders are required to obtain all necessary regulatory permits from relevant government agencies prior to deploying and/or conducting any off-bottom or on-bottom shellfish cultivation activities on a Suffolk County shellfish aquaculture lease site. Lease Applicants and Leaseholders that obtain or renew their leases under Phase II (subsequent to April 21, 2021) of the Lease Program are required to obtain a Private Aid to Navigation (PATON) permit from the US Coast Guard prior to deployment of required lease site marker buoy; and must also contact National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to initiate the appropriate chart and Coast Pilot corrections.
PERMIT INFORMATION
Below is the contact information for the applicable federal and state regulatory agencies that Leaseholders will need to contact to obtain their regulatory permits. Please note additional permits may be required from the town in which your lease site is located and may differ from Town to Town, if applicable.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Marine Resources
Bureau of Shellfisheries
123 Kings Park Boulevard
(Nissequogue River State Park)
Kings Park, New York 11754
Phone: (631) 444-0489
Fax: (631) 444-0496
NYSDEC - Aquaculture Permits
United States Coast Guard
First Coast Guard District
Waterways Management
Private Aids to Navigation (PATON) Division
408 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 223-8347
Fax: (617) 223-8073
www.usharbormaster.com