Two Long Island residents recently received penalties for illegally digging for clams in uncertified waters.
Earlier this year, on Feb. 5, ECOs Berketis, Franz, Kochanowski, and Pabes located a vessel occupied by two clammers actively digging in an uncertified area near the Execution Rocks Lighthouse in the town of North Hempstead, Nassau County. Harvesting shellfish in uncertified areas poses a health risk to consumers who eat shellfish.
The ECOs boarded the vessel and discovered nine bags of untagged clams. They escorted the clammers back into Hempstead Harbor, ticketed both individuals for taking shellfish from uncertified waters, and returned the clams back to the waters of the state.
On Sept. 23, one of the subjects, from Northport, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense in Nassau County First District Court and paid a fine of $1,000. The second subject, from Huntington, was convicted after a jury trial in Nassau County First District Court, fined $900, and sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
Both defendants held New York shellfish digger permits which requires them to pass a test demonstrating knowledge of the certified and uncertified areas for shellfish digging.
