Crabbing Ban Extended for Georgica Pond

Unless future testing of East Hampton’s Georgica Pond has better results, taking crabs and other marine life will be prohibited there for at least another three weeks, the East Hampton Town Trustees decided on Tuesday. Most recent water samples indicate a “dangerously high level” of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which was first detected in the pond in July, said Stephanie Forsberg, the trustees’ assistant clerk.

The trustees have put up signs warning residents of the prohibition and advising kayakers and other recreational users of the pond of the danger posed to human and animal health.

Ingesting water containing elevated levels of cyanobacteria can cause headaches, fever, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, while swimming in contaminated  water can cause irritation to eyes and skin.

Meanwhile, Suffolk County has advised residents against entering or using water from Sagg Pond in Sagaponack, Old Town Pond in Southampton, and several waterways farther west due to high levels of cyanobacteria.

While there is no conclusive evidence that consuming shellfish from a water body containing cyanobacteria is hazardous, “It’s not a risk I’m willing to take,” Dr. Forsberg said. “I almost think we should keep it closed for the season unless we have further notice” of a clean bill of health. The only solution, she said, is colder temperatures.

Dr. Forsberg, who has a doctorate in marine science from Stony Brook University, had initiated the water-quality testing program in the waters the trustees manage last year. On Tuesday, she also told her colleagues that cochlodinium, or rust tide, is still present in Three Mile Harbor in East Hampton. Rust tide is not harmful to humans but is to many marine species, she said.

The trustees are authorized to close a waterway to the harvesting of marine life for 21 days at a time, which they unanimously voted to do on Tuesday, effective immediately. Lifting the closure is conditioned on a positive change in the level of cyanobacteria as determined by Christopher Gobler of Stony Brook University, whose laboratory conducts the testing in conjunction with the trustees.