Part of Healthy Nassau, This Holistic Approach to Reviving Shellfish Population Will Allow for Clamming and Oyster Harvesting for First Time in 70 Years

MINEOLA, NY – In continuing his Healthy Nassau initiative, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi announced today that the County would be making its second installment of shellfish seeding in Hempstead Harbor, as part of a major co-operative effort to rebuild the Harbor's shellfish population and re-open the harbor to recreational shellfishing. 2 million shellfish were seeded in 2007.

Since the 1930s, Hempstead Harbor has been partially or totally closed to shellfishing as a result of poor water quality. However, Suozzi has led the effort to make dramatic improvements to Hempstead Harbor's water quality, by reducing sewage and industrial discharges, reducing storm water pollution, remediating landfills and Superfund sites, and as Mayor, led efforts to upgrade the City of Glen Cove's wastewater treatment plant. These improvements have allowed Nassau County, the Towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (HHPC) to work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to re-open Hempstead Harbor to recreational shellfishing in August of 2010. The initiative is part of Suozzi's Healthy Nassau campaign to make Nassau County the healthiest county in the nation by 2020.

"I'm extremely proud of the work that we have all done to improve the health of Hempstead Harbor," said County Executive Suozzi. "We've reduced bacteria, cleaned up stormwater runoff, and with the DEC's approval, we're looking forward to re-opening the Harbor to shellfishing in 2010. It's time for Long Island residents reclaim to their tradition of shellfishing in Hempstead Harbor. I'd like to thank the Towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, the Village of Sea Cliff, and the City of Glen Cove for working with us to improve the health of Hempstead Harbor."

The County is working with the Towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and the HHPC to stock the Harbor with oysters and clams in preparation for the re-opening. Both Towns provided boats for the seeding operation, and the Town of Oyster Bay conducted a shellfish density survey in the summer of 2009 that was used to determine the best areas for seeding.

Funding for the 2009 shellfish seeding operation is provided by the Long Island Sound Study, through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. The County purchased 1.1 million clams and oysters from Frank M. Flowers and Sons, an environmentally conscious seafood company located in Oyster Bay.

"As one of North Hempstead's treasured open spaces, Hempstead Harbor has benefited from this administration’s agenda to make the environment a priority," said Supervisor Jon Kaiman. "This seeding initiative will help enhance the quality of life for residents and help encourage the stewardship of the harbor by attracting more visitors."

"Through this program and with the state and county's help, we are literally planting the seeds for the Hempstead Harbor's future. Each one of these 1.1 million clams and oysters will help further cleanse the harbor's water and hopefully in the very near future, provide greater recreational and occupational opportunities for our residents," said Eric Swenson, the Executive Director of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee.

Healthy shellfish populations directly benefit the water quality in Long Island Sound as a result of the shellfish's natural filtration feeding processes. Reintroduction of shellfish will also restore a long missing portion of Long Island's marine heritage and create opportunities to invest in tourism.

Healthy Nassau, Suozzi's campaign to make Nassau the healthiest county in the nation, builds upon existing initiatives and adds new ones in order to sustain a healthy environment (focusing on air, land and water), while encouraging healthy living (tending to bodies, minds and spirits). Along with today's shellfish seeding, Healthy Nassau initiatives include: working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options; continuing to preserve the County's remaining open space; operating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Grossmann's Farm in Malverne; and providing space for a Farmer's Market offering fresh, local produce.