The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that shellfish harvesting will be prohibited in Three Mile Harbor from July 17 until about July 22, because of the large gathering of boats expected in the harbor for Saturday’s fireworks show.
The state has routinely closed shellfishing in the harbor for the few days following the annual Clamshell Foundation fireworks show in anticipation that bacteria levels in the harbor will be increased from people urinating in the water or boats discharging their waste tanks in the harbor — even though that is illegal.
The closure goes into effect the day of the fireworks show and will not be lifted until water testing shows that bacteria levels are below health safety thresholds. The DEC estimated that could be as long as five days.
Michael Wright on Jul 13, 2021