New York DEC Temporarily Closes Flanders Bay Shellfishing

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has closed shellfishing areas across Long Island, including ones in Flanders Bay, after record rains caused an "extraordinary volume of storm water runoff," according to a statement from the agency on Monday.

The DEC has designated all of Flanders bay west of Miamogue as "uncertified" effective immediately. The harvest of shellfish is prohibited through Aug. 22.

Storm runoff carries bacteria and viruses into the bay, which may infect shellfish and make them unsafe to eat, the statement said.

The limitations on shellfishing will likely force Riverhead restaurants who use local shellfish to rely on outside sources for their seafood, said one restaurant.

"We'll have to use purveyors we're not used to using," said Christina Mehrhoff, a manager at . "It may mean the prices change due to the availability of our products."

Mehrhoff said the restaurant gets some of their shellfish from Flanders Bay, while most of it comes from the North Shore.

"Obviously customer safety and following DEC rules is most important to us," she said.

The DEC has said they will reopen areas as soon as possible after testing for bacteria in the water. Fishermen looking for more information can call a DEC hotline at (631) 444-0480 for a recorded message with the latest on the closings.

The National Weather Service has extended its flash flood warning for Suffolk County through this evening, as another one to two inches of rain is forecasted for the area. The DEC added that more areas may close on Tuesday if the towns of Southold, Shelter Island, and East Hampton experience rainfalls of over three inches.