New Legislation Supports Working Waterfronts
December 5, 2025
By Leslie Salmeron
Many of us recognize the importance of preserving land-based agriculture, but we must remember our waters also provide a bounty, and Long Island aquaculture is thriving.
Unfortunately, maritime businesses face increasing pressure to sell their waterfront properties for development, which could eliminate hundreds of jobs and negatively impact the local economy. Many businesses rely on the seafood products that are sourced from our local waters, so we cannot lose the local waterfronts that make it possible.
Thankfully, on September 3, Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine along with the sponsors of the bill, Legislators Ann Welker and Catherine Stark, signed the “Working Waterfronts" law. This legislation preserves commercial waterfront properties for maritime use, including aquaculture farms and other maritime businesses – and helps prevent these properties from being redeveloped for non-maritime use.
The Trust’s Matt Swain and Josh Halsey participated in the drafting of the legislation along with other community members. The new law is designed to protect the region’s working waterfront and uphold its cultural and economic identity – similar to how the Community Preservation Fund is designed to protect farmland and open space.
We thank the Suffolk County Legislature for their support, which helps protect working waterfronts.
Leslie Salmeron
Digital Communication Associate