The Great South Bay, a cornerstone of Long Island’s economy and ecosystem, is under threat. The Long Island Oyster Growers Association and Open Water Enterprises, LLC, a family-owned oyster farm, have filed a petition in Suffolk Supreme Court to compel the Town of Huntington to protect the bay from a harmful development plan. The Town’s Melville Town Center Overlay District, approved without proper environmental review, risks devastating shellfish populations and the bay’s delicate balance.
The Town’s plan connects new residential and mixed-use developments to the Southwest Sewer District, piping treated sewage into the Atlantic Ocean south of Fire Island. This approach drains Long Island’s aquifer, already depleted by 20 feet since ocean outfall systems began. The consequences are dire:
Dried-up rivers and streams, reducing freshwater flow to the bay.
Warmer bay waters, disrupting oyster growth and survival.
Higher salinity, fueling predation and harmful algal blooms like Brown Tide.
Fewer oysters, threatening farmers’ livelihoods and the bay’s health.
“The Great South Bay is our lifeblood,” said Sixto Portilla, of Open Water Enterprises. “For years, we’ve raised oysters in the bay. The Town’s plan threatens our way of life and the ecosystem we depend on.”
There’s a better way. Proven technologies, already used across Long Island—including in Huntington—treat wastewater on-site and recharge the aquifer, restoring groundwater equilibrium and all the sensitive ecological features it sustains. Yet the Town ignored these solutions, expediting development interests.
The Long Island Oyster Growers Association and Open Water Enterprises are fighting for a thorough environmental review to ensure the Melville Overlay District doesn’t harm the bay. They urge the Town to adopt sustainable wastewater solutions that safeguard Long Island’s rivers, wetlands, and marine life.
“We call on Huntington to rethink this shortsighted plan and protect the Great South Bay for future generations,” said Eric Koepele, President of the Long Island Oyster Growers Association. “We invite our community to join us in this fight for our waters and our way of life.”
About the Long Island Oyster Growers Association
The Long Island Oyster Growers Association represents shellfish and seaweed farmers dedicated to sustainable aquaculture and the health of Long Island’s waters.
About Open Water Enterprises, LLC
Open Water Enterprises is a family-owned oyster farm, one of several Long Island farms harvesting authentic Blue Point Oysters from Great South Bay, committed to environmental stewardship and thriving shellfish populations.
For More Information
Sixto E. Portilla, Ph.D. | Maris Stella Blue Points | Open Water Enterprises, LLC | openwater.sixto@gmail.com