Gov. Hochul seeks disaster aid for Suffolk oyster, kelp farmers after icy winter

Long Island’s oyster and kelp farmers, reeling after a brutal winter, could get a lifeline in low-interest emergency loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that the state was requesting a disaster declaration for Suffolk County that would make farmers eligible for loans covering damage to aquaculture gear, vessels and farm infrastructure.

Emergency loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency are used to replace essential property, cover production costs and pay essential family living expenses. The loans cover up to 100% of losses and are capped at $500,000. Rates are typically lower than conventional rates.

"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," Hochul said in a news release announcing the disaster declaration request. "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."

A survey this winter by an industry group, Long Island Oyster Growers Association, found that the industry as a whole on Long Island lost about a third of its crop — millions of oysters — and faced about a $2.4 million bill for gear replacement. The group has more than 50 members.

Keith Powell, a partner in Neguntatogue Oysters, out of Lindenhurst, said that his family’s operation had lost about 90% of the oysters it had in the water, along with many of the oyster cages and lines, destroyed by thick ice, frigid temperatures and weeks of heavy snow.

"We’d been tending those oysters since July of last year," he said. "We need capital up front to replace them and deal with the fact we won’t have income for months."

Hochul's office confirmed Monday that the USDA had received the request for a disaster declaration.

The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Eric Koepele, a partner in the oyster farm, North Fork Big Oyster, and the industry group’s president, said that many member farmers carry crop insurance and so they avoid a total loss. But Long Island’s aquaculture farms are almost all small, family-run outfits without easy access to capital, he said.

"After a winter like this, it’s going to be a scramble to repair equipment and seed purchases are coming in next month," he said. "Just like any farm economics, you’re got to reserve money from harvest for seed."

Plans are moving ahead for the Suffolk County Oyster Jamboree and the Oyster Bay Oyster Fest, in August and October, respectively, he said. Demand for Long Island oysters could increase this year because an oyster disease called MSX is limiting supply from Canada, Koepele said.

A representative for the state's Department of Environmental Conservation, Denis Slattery, said that state officials were also gathering information to support a potential fishery disaster declaration request that could result in additional federal assistance. 

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.