Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Apr. 6 that New York State is seeking a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial Disaster Designation for Suffolk County following significant damage to local aquaculture operations caused by severe winter weather in February.
The request comes after heavy snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures led to an estimated $2.4 million in losses for shellfish growers in the region. If granted, the disaster designation would allow affected farms to apply for USDA low-interest emergency loans, providing much-needed financial assistance.
“With freezing temperatures that lasted for several weeks, the Long Island coast saw ice conditions like they haven’t experienced in years, leading to a halt in operations and damage to equipment that will cost the aquaculture industry millions of dollars,” Governor Hochul said. “I urge the USDA to take swift action to declare Suffolk County a disaster area and help our growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward.”
According to state officials, small and family-owned shellfish farms play a vital role in New York’s coastal economy. The extreme winter conditions prevented oyster farmers from accessing their growing areas or harvesting crops due to thick ice across bays and waterways. This also caused extensive damage to gear, vessels, and farm infrastructure. Surveys estimate many growers are facing production losses exceeding 30 percent as well as nearly $2.4 million in repair costs.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Our shellfish growers depend on being able to move through the waters to harvest their crops and in February, with ice as thick as it was, they were not only not able to harvest their crops, but they also saw critical equipment severely damaged, costing them millions of dollars. I am thankful to the Governor for this request and appreciate the USDA’s consideration to move ahead with a disaster declaration to provide some financial relief to area farmers.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said recent winter conditions have devastated local shellfish populations: “We thank Governor Hochul for her advocacy and echo her call for a USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration for the shellfish aquaculture industry… DEC remains committed to working with our partners and the industry.”
If approved by USDA authorities, farm operators within Suffolk County—and those from neighboring counties—would be eligible for emergency loan programs through the Farm Service Agency if requirements are met.
