Shellfishing waters closed in Huntington

The state closed shellfishing waters in the Town of Huntington on Wednesday after finding a marine biotoxin that cause a potentially fatal illness in several shellfish samples.

Northport Bay, Centerport Harbor, Duck Island Harbor, and their tributaries east of a line extending south from Sand City to the northeast corner of the beach pavilion at Crescent Beach were ordered closed to shellfishing by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The samples tested yielded positive results for the marine biotoxin saxitoxin, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning, a potentially fatal illness that can affect those who ingest contaminated shellfish. Paralytic shellfish poisoning affects the nervous system and can cause numbness, paralysis and difficulty breathing.

The biotoxin is produced by the Alexandrium fundyense algae, which usually blooms in the spring as waters warm.

The state regularly monitors the waters for the presence of the biotoxin, which was first found in the waters of Long Island in 2006.

The state said it will reopen the shellfishing areas once the biotoxin clears. Harvesters can call 631-444-0480 for updated recorded information about the closures.