Huntington shellfish areas reopened

More than 2,000 acres of prime shellfish harvesting areas in Northport Bay, Duck Island Harbor and Centerport Harbor were reopened for the harvest of shellfish Wednesday after "extensive testing" found no detectable levels of biotoxins in samples taken from the sites, the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced.

The three areas, which total about 2,200 acres, had been closed since May 12, when the DEC Bureau of Marine Resources detected saxitoxin in shellfish harvested from Northport Bay.

Saxitoxin is a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning, officials said. Paralytic shellfish poisoning can be fatal in extreme cases.

The decision to reopen the sites within the Town of Huntington was based on the results of what the DEC called "extensive testing" of samples taken from the waters.

The DEC said its microbiology lab tested about 85 shellfish samples since the start of the closure, but found no detectable levels. The samples were also sent to the Maine Department of Marine Resources biotoxin lab, officials said, which confirmed the tests.

The status of shellfish harvest areas affected by closures is available in a recorded message at 631-444-0480. Officials said additional information is available at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7765.html.