Status by phone only. Call before you go.
Areas & maps
MOSTLY CLOSED. NYSDEC lists these Town of North Hempstead waters as uncertified (closed) all year, January 1 – December 31: all of Little Neck Bay and its tributaries; all of Manhasset Bay and its tributaries; the Long Island Sound waters north and west of the Prospect Point – Hempstead Harbor Buoy "2" line; East Creek; the inner part of Hempstead Harbor south of the Sands Point Preserve bluff – Red Spring Point jetty line; and the areas around West Pond, Crescent Beach, Dosoris Pond and Frost Creek. Check the DEC Public Shellfish Mapper and current temporary closures before harvesting anywhere else. Town Code § 69-4 also bans taking shellfish from Town-owned lands and Town-owned underwater lands without special permission from the Town.
Permits & fees
No town shellfish permit program found; ask the Town.
| Town recreational permit | None found. Town Code § 69-4 prohibits taking shellfish from Town-owned lands and underwater lands except by special permission from the Commissioner (after consulting NYSDEC). Call the Town at (516) 869-6311 |
|---|
Limits by species
| Clams + oysters + mussels combined | 1 bushel per day (state) |
|---|---|
| Hard clams | 100 per day; 1" thickness at hinge |
| Soft clams | ½ bushel; 1½" length |
| Oysters | ½ bushel; 3" longest diameter |
| Bay scallops | 1 bushel in season; 2¼" + annual growth ring |
Season & hours
State: bay scallop season opens first Monday in November (see DEC limits PDF). Town rules may add restrictions.
Rain closure rules
NYSDEC: emergency closures follow rainfall over 3" in 24–36 hours. In summer, when water is warmer, some areas may be closed after LESS than 3". Closures may be extended beyond 7 days if water quality has not improved by day 6. North Shore embayments close at least 3 days and may reopen on day 4 after testing (Stony Brook and Mount Sinai harbors may take longer). Recorded closure line 631-444-0480, updated after 4 PM from day 3–4.
Where to buy a permit
Nothing to buy that we found. Ask the Town about special permission under § 69-4, (516) 869-6311.
Notes & sources
Closed-area list: NYSDEC Shellfish Closures, 6 NYCRR 41.2(b)(3), Town of North Hempstead (https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/shellfishing/closures). Town rule: Town Code Chapter 69, § 69-4 (https://ecode360.com/9299280). The City of Glen Cove, on the east shore of Hempstead Harbor, is listed by DEC under both North Hempstead and Oyster Bay: Crescent Beach (250 yards around the jetty), Dosoris Pond, Frost Creek and West Pond are closed year-round; we did not find Glen Cove city shellfish rules (City Hall (516) 676-2000, https://glencoveny.gov/). Researched Oct 23, 2026.
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