The United States Department of Agriculture has issued a Disaster Designation for Suffolk County shellfish farmers due to this winter’s heavy snowfall and multi-week severe freeze, which significantly impacted the county’s oyster aquaculture industry this February — an estimated combined $2.4 million loss.
The Disaster Designation now allows affected farms to apply for disaster assistance and low-interest emergency loans. It is separate from another federal fishery disaster declaration also being sought by elected officials.
“Early last month, I urged the USDA to take swift action to declare Suffolk County a disaster area and help our aquaculture growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a press release Tuesday..“With this Secretarial Disaster Declaration, the producers who have seen economic loss can now take advantage of low-interest loans to help ensure they’re able to sustain their operations. I have long been committed to helping this important agricultural sector grow and thrive, and the State will continue to support the industry through this hardship.”
Prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and extensive ice formation in Long Island’s coastal waters this February prevented oyster farmers from accessing their shellfish farms, while farmers documented that ice accumulation caused extensive damage to aquaculture gear, vessels and farm infrastructure.
A survey conducted by industry leaders and Suffolk County earlier this spring found that many growers are facing a more than 30 percent loss in production and those that reported damage to racks, lines, and vessels are facing estimated repair and replacement costs totaling $2,396,500.
“This is great news as those who make their living on the water in Suffolk County are committed to seeing their industries flourish,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romain in the governor’s press release. “These funds will help our oyster growers recover from a brutal winter that destroyed costly equipment. The shellfishing industry is part of Suffolk County’s history, and we all have to do all we can to keep this important business viable and growing.”
This USDA disaster designation makes farm operators in Suffolk County and Nassau County, as a contiguous county, eligible for emergency loans from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provided they meet eligibility requirements. Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for relief programs.
Farmers can contact their local FSA office here: Find Your Local USDA Service Center | Farmers.gov.
Congressman Nick LaLota is also calling on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to declare a federal fishery disaster for the industry.
In a March 2 letter to NOAA Assistant Secretary Timothy Petty and Assistant Administrator Eugienio Piñeiro Soler, Mr. LaLota said the freeze “was not a routine winter challenge. It was an extended icing event that shut down access to leases and equipment for weeks, destroyed gear and caused substantial inventory losses.”
“Early reports from operators across the Great South Bay, Moriches Bay and the Peconic Bay system indicate widespread damage, including total losses for certain floating gear operations, extensive gear displacement and destruction from ice-driven drag and debris, and significant losses even for deeper submerged systems.”
The DEC is encouraging the aquaculture industry to continue to submit landing reports to their office to assist with the separate National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationFederal Fisheries Disaster Designation evaluation for this weather event.
Numerous elected officials, along with State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton toured a number of impacted businesses on April 8, 2026 to better understand the extent of the damage.
“The damage our shellfish growers saw this winter was unprecedented, with severe damage costing them millions of dollars,” said Mr. Ball in the governor’s statement. By elevating our concerns to the USDA, our growers will now have access to emergency loans that will offer financial relief to area farmers.”
“The shellfish aquaculture populations across Long Island’s coastal waters were devastated during winter weather, impacting growers who rely on these resources for their livelihoods,” said Ms. Lefton. “DEC encourages impacted business owners to submit fishery revenue information and landing reports as the next step in obtaining a potential NOAA Fishery Disaster Declaration.”
“A disaster declaration from the federal government is crucial for our aquaculture industry, given the devastating impact of the past winter,” said State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni. “This designation will facilitate access to low-interest loans for our farmers, enabling them to restore operations to full capacity. I am grateful to the governor for acknowledging the importance of this legacy industry, and I am proud to stand alongside those who champion Long Island’s maritime culture and its blue economy.”
Keep Independent News on the East End
The Beacon is able to provide all of our content online free of charge thanks to support from our readers. Be a vital part of keeping our community informed!
Advertisement
