Fishermen Suing New York City Over Shellfish Beds Allegedly Contaminated During Sandy
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A lawsuit has been filed against New York City by a group of fishermen who say shellfish beds were polluted as a result of massive releases of raw sewage during Superstorm Sandy.
The Baymen's Protective Association represents about 76 people who harvest clams from the Raritan and Sandy Hook bays in New Jersey.
In the lawsuit filed on Friday, the group claims that sewage outflows from wastewater plants crippled by the storm contaminated those fishing grounds.
The shellfish beds were closed by environmental authorities for about two months because of the pollution.
Clammer Keith Craffey told The Daily News that the shutdown put him out of work between Halloween and Christmas back in 2012.
Lawyer Sean Regan told WCBS 880 that the group is seeking $1 million. He said they hope to reclaim the revenue lost while they were unable to work.
"If you couldn't go to work and earn a living for two or three months, that's a long time. And that's about what it took for the bay to clear up," Regan said.
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