A new culinary adventure awaits seafood lovers on Long Island’s South Shore. The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail officially launched in March, offering over 75 miles of fresh, locally sourced seafood for visitors to explore. Running from Bay Shore to Montauk, the trail is part of New York State’s ongoing efforts to promote locally raised, wild-caught, and sustainably harvested fish and shellfish.
Governor Hochul Celebrates the Trail’s Impact
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasizing its importance to both the environment and local economy. “Long Island’s aquaculture and seafood industries are vital to New York’s agricultural economy – they create jobs, support a healthy environment, and provide New Yorkers with fresh, nutritious seafood,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trails highlight the amazing fish and shellfish harvested locally, showcase our outstanding small businesses, and attract more visitors to this incredible region.”
Exploring the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail
The newly introduced Seafood Cuisine Trail includes 20 official dining locations and other notable seafood industry points of interest. It stretches across Long Island’s South Shore, offering a wide variety of seafood experiences. Highlights of the trail include Blue Island Oyster Farm in West Sayville, Haskell’s Seafood Market and Cafe in Westhampton Beach, Varney’s Restaurant in Brookhaven, and Bostwick’s Seafood Market in East Hampton, among others. These spots give visitors a chance to savor fresh local catches while supporting the local aquaculture community.
A second seafood trail, The North Shore Trail, will run from Oyster Bay to Greenport. A Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail digital app is also in development, helping visitors locate seafood at oyster farms, seafood shops, and beach-side vendors across the region.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Richard A. Ball, the New York State Agriculture Commissioner, praised the seafood industry’s contributions to the state’s economy. “Long Island’s waters are abundant with fresh, delicious fish and shellfish, and our seafood industry works tirelessly in harvesting and raising these local delicacies,” said Ball. “I encourage New Yorkers to visit any number of the many stops on the new Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail to discover some delicious foods and help support our local aquaculture community.”
The Long Island seafood industry plays a significant role in New York’s economy. In 2023 alone, commercial fishermen on Long Island sustainably harvested more than 16 million pounds of finfish, valued at over $28 million. Montauk, the state’s largest commercial fishing port, ranks 51st nationally for wild-caught seafood by poundage and 53rd by dollar value.
A Growing Network of Culinary Trails
The Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail is part of New York’s Taste NY program, which promotes regional food and beverage trails. With over 40 distinct trails, the program also includes the Long Island Craft Beverage Trail, which links wineries, breweries, cider companies, and more craft beverage makers across the island. Pairing a visit to the Seafood Cuisine Trail with a craft beverage experience could be an ideal way to explore the region.
Other New York tourism boards, such as Visit Buffalo Niagara, have created their own specialized trails. The Buffalo Wing Trail Map, launched in 2022, takes visitors through the history of Buffalo wings and introduces new eateries, offering a fun and tasty route through the city.
The launch of the Long Island Seafood Cuisine Trail marks another step forward in promoting local, sustainable food experiences while supporting the regional economy and encouraging tourism throughout New York State.
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