Farmingville, NY - Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilwoman Jane Bonner today announced that Town Bay Constables have issued summonses against a group of people who were illegally harvesting oysters from Mt. Sinai Harbor. Bay Constables had been alerted to several incidents of illegal shellfishing over the past several weeks in Mt. Sinai Harbor, where the taking of shellfish is prohibited by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) from May 1 – October 31.
On Tuesday, July 28 Brookhaven Bay Constables were patrolling Mt. Sinai Harbor by boat and observed approximately eight people harvesting oysters. They radioed a Senior Bay Constable who was on shore patrol to respond to a road ending where these individuals were. The Constables found that the group had approximately 100 oysters in their possession and issued a summons for taking shellfish from uncertified waters. The vehicle the group were travelling in was registered to “Wasabi and Ginger Sushi Restaurant” in Larchmont, New York.
Brookhaven Town operates one of Long Island’s largest municipal shellfish hatcheries in Mt. Sinai Harbor, growing more than 2 million oysters and one million clams at the facility. These shellfish are planted in bays and harbors throughout the Town when they reach maturity to help clean local waters and revive local fisheries.
“Taking shellfish from uncertified waters and eating them or selling them to customers at a restaurant can pose a serious health threat,” said Supervisor Romaine. “I urge the DEC to contact the Westchester Health Department to investigate the restaurant these individuals were associated with to ensure that the food they are serving is safe for the public.”
“Our harbors, bays and waterways are tremendous assets, and part of the reason so many of us call Brookhaven our home. I want to thank our Bay Constables for their continued vigilance in protecting our waterfront with their regular patrols, keeping our residents safe and protecting our environment.”
