Huntington Bay reopened to shellfishing; other areas closed

State environmental officials have reopened about 5,200 acres of shellfish beds in Huntington Bay that had been temporarily closed after a potentially lethal toxin was found in shellfish there.

All normally certified shellfish lands in Lloyd Harbor, Coast Guard Cove and Huntington Bay were open for harvest Friday. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said tests of shellfish samples from the area did not detect saxitoxin, a poison that accumulates in shellfish and can lead to paralytic poisoning in those who eat the shellfish.

But shellfishing is still prohibited in about 2,000 acres of Northport Bay, Centerport Harbor, Duck Island Harbor and Northport Harbor. The toxin was detected there first, in early May, and continues to show up in tissue samples, agency officials said.

This is the fourth year that the toxin has led to shellfish closures off Huntington. More information on the temporary closures will be posted on the DEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7765.html.