The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has temporarily closed areas in the town of Riverhead, Southold and Southampton, Suffolk County for the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods (e.g. snails) due to the finding of marine biotoxin in shellfish.
The closure impacts all the underwater lands in Terry Creek/Meetinghouse Creek, tributaries of Flanders Bay (Town of Riverhead). It also includes all underwater lands in James Creek (Town of Southold) and western Shinnecock Bay (Town of Southampton). This action was taken after NYSDEC determined that shellfish collected from monitoring sites in these locations tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
In addition to these findings, many dead terrapin turtles have been observed throughout Flanders Bay. Because terrapin turtles feed on mollusks, it is suspected that they died as a result of eating contaminated shellfish and/or gastropods. Based on preliminary screening of water samples collected on Friday, May 15, 2015, throughout Flanders Bay and its tributaries by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (analyzed under contract to SCDHS by Stony Brook University), results indicate that elevated concentrations of Alexandrium (the harmful algae that causes PSP) appear to be contained to Terry Creek/Meetinghouse Creek and James Creek. Full quantitative analysis results from these areas will be available next week. Residents are advised, there is potential for this organism to spread to other areas. Currently, all of the tributaries to Flanders Bay and the western portion of that bay (Simmons Point to Goose Creek Point) are already closed to harvest of shellfish for bacteriological concerns; therefore, residents should avoid consuming shellfish from these areas, as well.
Symptoms of PSP will depend on the amount of toxin ingested, and can progress from tingling of the lips and tongue, to numbness of the face, neck and limbs, loss of muscular control, followed by difficulty breathing. Residents who may have consumed shellfish from this area and experience any of these symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Contact with water in and around areas closed to shellfishing is not expected to cause symptoms, however, it is generally recommended to avoid contact with water that appears discolored. If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately.
For more information about Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) visit the Suffolk County and NYSDEC websites:
For the most up to date information on water bodies affected by marine biotoxins visit the NYSDEC website:
Follow us
suffolkcountyny.gov
Facebook.com/SuffolkCountyHealthServices
Twitter.com/SuffolkCoHealth