LI oyster growers shelled again — this time by warning of killer bacteria in water
Long Island oyster growers are facing challenges due to a warning about vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which was mistakenly linked to their oysters. This comes after a brutal winter that caused significant crop losses. Growers fear a repeat of past sales declines as they work to recover from these setbacks.
- ▪Oyster growers on Long Island are dealing with bad publicity from a bacteria warning linked to their industry.
- ▪The vibrio vulnificus bacteria warning was erroneously associated with local oysters, despite being found far from regulated oyster farms.
- ▪Long Island growers suffered an estimated $2.3 million in equipment damage from severe winter weather.
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Long Island exclusive LI oyster growers shelled again — this time by warning of killer bacteria in water By Alex Mitchell Published May 17, 2026, 5:34 p.m. ET It’s salt water in the wound. Oyster growers on Long Island just can’t catch a break this season, now battling bad publicity from a recent warning about dangerous waterborne bacteria that was erroneously associated with the local industry — after already suffering massive crop losses from the brutal winter. “There’s a couple I know that goes out to dinner three to four nights a week and always starts with a dozen oysters,” said Phil Mastrangelo, co-owner of Orient-based Oysterponds Shellfish Co., to The Post. 6 Long Island oyster growers are reeling from bad publicity over a bacteria warning, compounding massive winter crop losses.
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