Shellfish

Riverhead Town is looking to reopen East Creek in Jamesport to residents for shellfishing for the first time in almost two decades.

The ban is in response to the presence of saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that accumulates in shellfish and can sicken people who eat shellfish affected by the toxin.

If Suffolk County and the private sector can get their act together, however, the farming of shellfish in our bay waters could add big cash to our local economy and strengthen the ecosystem as well.

Due to elevated saxitoxin levels in mussel samples from Meetinghouse Creek, there is a temporary emergency closure of both Terry and Meetinghouse creeks.