May 11, 2011 10:02 AM
QUOGUE—State officials have ordered the waters of western Shinnecock Bay and Quantuck Bay closed to all shellfish harvesting and warned residents not to consume shellfish harvested from those areas because of the detection of a red algae that produces a neurotoxin potentially dangerous to humans.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a warning on Friday that no shellfish should be taken from the waters of Shinnecock Bay west of the Ponquogue Bridge, and Quantuck Bay east of the Post Lane Bridge in Quogue.
The state has confirmed that high concentrations of a red algae known as Alexandrium have been detected in the bay and in shellfish samples taken from its waters. Alexandrium produces a neurotoxin called PSP that can cause numbness and temporary paralysis in humans if consumed, and could be... more
The State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a warning on Friday that no shellfish should be taken from the waters of Shinnecock Bay west of the Ponquogue Bridge, and Quantuck Bay east of the Post Lane Bridge in Quogue.
The state has confirmed that high concentrations of a red algae known as Alexandrium have been detected in the bay and in shellfish samples taken from its waters. Alexandrium produces a neurotoxin called PSP that can cause numbness and temporary paralysis in humans if consumed, and could be... more
This is bad news because I clam in west Shinnecock and was ordered to throw my catch back Friday ahternoon.
What is the name of the Red tide that isn't a threat to humans ?
Limit commercial development until it is proven it cannot harm the bay environments.
Isn't sewage nitrogen ? And there weren't any algae blooms either.
This causes all sorts of problems, like closing the fisheries, swimming fish migrate so they are not directly effected.
There is a reason to be concerned because pesticide use has declined dramatically ...more in the last 10 years. Nitrogen makes up a very small portion of the problem.
Please take a few courses offered by Dr. Gobler so you can learn a thing or two about the science of algal blooms and marine biology.
"rock salt" is NaCl. Seawater is H2O w/NaCl dissolved in it. The runoff from rock salt has little to no effect on the marine enviornment - save for a minor increase in salinty which is quickly offset by the flushing of the bay.
You claim that the rock salt "combines" with petroleum contaminants to create a "toxic blend". And ...more what is this blend? How does NaCl bind with the "petroleum contaminants"? I'm not saying road runoff isn't problematic but you are off base - especially when you say that it causes "all sorts of problems" then cite the closing of fisheries which makes no sense since you follow that up by saying fish migrate so they are not affected.
Nitrogen is the engine for algae - nitrogen comes from our waste and from fertilizers. Since these blooms happen in the spring and there isn't a lot of farmland in the Western Sihnnecock area, it's safe to say the nitrogen is coming from septic tanks and people fertilizing their lawns. Dr. Gobler is a professional who has been studying algae for well over a decade and he knows what he is talking about. All of you pseudo scientists are fools for thinking you know the cause of these algal blooms.
If we want them to stop the town should find a way to fund a sewer district - particularly for high density places like Shinnecock Shores where a very high percentage of the cesspools are sitting in water (for all intents and purposes).
This further narrows the field of contestants.... I am down to NATURE and OLD QUOGUE....
It would seem that until we address the overpopulation, and the strain it puts on ...more our cesspool system, we will continue to have this problem.