Now, a new Suffolk County law might ease that pressure.

County Executive Ed Romaine signed the “working waterfront” bill at Greenport’s railroad dock Sept. 29, establishing protections for the area’s commercial fishing and maritime heritage. The county has allocated $9.5 million through 2028 to support conservation easement acquisitions.

“My concern would be people who aren’t necessarily boaters, or aren’t as connected with the water, may not understand how high priority this is to help keep the fabric of the North Fork what it’s always been,” Mr. Strong told the Suffolk Times. “It’s clearly an integral piece of what the North Fork is all about.”

Steve Clarke, owner of Greenport Yacht & Shipbuilding, has watched property prices climb over the years. He worries the working waterfront could disappear within a decade because waterfront property is so valuable that owners decide to cash out rather than continue operating.

“I’d hate to see that,” he said.

The groundbreaking legislation establishes a framework for acquiring conservation easements on working waterfront properties, allowing the county to purchase development rights from owners of commercial waterfront sites. That secures the properties for maritime activities indefinitely.

Commercial waterfront property owners can apply to a newly formed 17-member working waterfront committee for conservation easements. The protective framework is modeled after the county’s farmland preservation program, launched 50 years ago.

Industries including aquaculture, marine repair, commercial fishing and recreational boating are protected under the guidelines.

For oyster farmers like Ian Wile, the bill addresses a critical need.

“One of the biggest challenges for nearly all oyster farmers is land-based access to do work,” said Mr. Wile, co-founder of Little Creek Oysters Farm in Greenport. “Unfortunately, the number of those land-based places has shrunk over the years and continues to shrink.”

Mr. Wile said that while the bill is a major step forward, he’d love to see it extended to recognize that “the working waterfront is most often supported by non-waterfront properties.”

Shipyards and marinas can be protected, but support businesses can’t.

Nate Phillips runs the pack house at the end of Monsell Place in Greenport. His whole livelihood has been the waterfront — he jokes that after he was born, his parents took him on their boat before going home.

Mr. Phillips constantly travels between Greenport and Mattituck, picking up seafood from boats and bringing it back for packing and distribution. He goes directly to the boats, giving fishermen two to three more hours on the water instead of traveling to Greenport themselves.

“Anyone who works on the water has to come back to a place — a place to either unload their product, do their gear work, do their mechanics, their maintenance,” he said. “You can’t do that at sea.”

For Mr. Phillips, the bill ensures he has that place.

Communities on the North Fork will compete with places like Montauk and Shinnecock Marina in Hampton Bays for the funding. There’s no specific sequence for the rollout — any property owner can apply for the funding.

“I think it’s going to be enormously helpful to property owners throughout Suffolk County,” Greenport Mayor Kevin Stuessi said.

Mr. Stuessi hopes Southold Town will update its Community Preservation Fund plan so the town and village might partner on opportunities. He doesn’t have specific projects in mind but said Greenport has several people who might apply.

To Mr. Clarke at Greenport Yacht & Shipbuilding, the bill is already creating awareness of just how many working waterfront properties and businesses exist.

“It lets everybody know, and people that normally wouldn’t know, that there is a large amount of working waterfront in Suffolk County,” he said. “It shines a light on the fact that there really is such a thing as a working waterfront, and it’s vitally important.”

Chris Pickerell, marine program director for Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays program, has worked for over 30 years on coastal and marine habitat restoration. As the son of a bayman and oyster farmer, he knows first hand the difficulties those professionals face in getting water access.

“We have bumper stickers that say, ‘no farms, no food,’” said Mr. Pickerell, referring to the landmark farmland preservation program. “The same goes for, ‘no docks, no water access, no fish.’”

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Saturday, Jan. 27, 8:30-11 a.m.: BR-INGO: breakfast and bingo at Riverhead Senior Center, 60 Shade Tree Lane, Riverhead. Presented by the Riverhead Youth Coalition and Town of Riverhead. Non-cash prizes for winners. Adults $10; children under 12, $5. Tickets available at the door or from the town recreation department, 631-727-3200 ext. 740.

Fundraisers

Jan. 16-Feb. 15: Pre-sale for Soups for the Soul fundraiser for Jefferson Temple Church of God In Christ, 15625 Route 48, Cutchogue. Menu options: broccoli and cheddar, butternut squash, chicken pot pie, beef chili, split pea with ham and chicken tortilla. Meals come with 12-ounce soup, drink, house salad, a roll or tortilla chips and apple crisp. $14. Pre-sale ends Feb. 15. Order pickup Saturday, Feb. 17, 1-4 p.m. at the church. For information or to order: call 631-734-5498 or text 631-276-9385.

Thursday, Jan. 25, 7-10 p.m.: A Night of Music and Fun at The Suffolk, 118 East Main St., Riverhead. Sponsored by Riverhead Chamber of Commerce and Coloki, Inc. With music by That ’70s Band, raffles, silent auction, buffet with cash bar. Proceeds to benefit the Salvation Army. Tickets start at $75. thesuffolk.org.

Sunday, Jan. 28, 10:30 a.m.: Second annual Splash for CAST Polar Plunge at Silver Sands Motel, 1400 Silvermere Road, Greenport. Event benefits the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays Initiative. 9:30 a.m. on-site registration, 10:30 a.m. plunge. Registration starts at $25. Register and information: e.givesmart.com/events/A0T.

Local history

Saturday, Feb. 3, 9:30-11:30 a.m.: Cultural Landscape Walking Tour at Hallock State Park Preserve, 6062 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Historical walk through preserve to historic hedgerows, Camp Carey site and view of a War of 1812 battle. Walk conducted by Mary Laura Lamont. Meet in upper parking lot. Snow/rain cancels. Information and reservations: 631-315-5475.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Get to know us better dinner hosted by Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council at Touch of Venice, 28350 Main Road, Cutchogue. Adults, $45; children age 6 to 12, $20; children under 6, free. Tickets on Eventbrite. Limited number of tickets available. Information and reservations: 207-233-5666.

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2: p.m.: Talk on Early 19th Century Woven Coverlets of Long Island hosted by Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council in the community room at Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library. Talk given by colonial textile historian and curator/collections manager of Huntington Historical Society Emily Werner. Information: 631-734-6360.

Meetings

Friday, Jan. 26, 6 p.m.: Open meeting of Stirling Historical Society of Greenport at the Little Red Schoolhouse, Front Street, Greenport. Overview of the nonprofit organization that will include past activities and upcoming events.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m.: Southold Town Garden Club meets to discuss ReWild Long Island, native gardening and grant opportunities at Southold Free Library. Free and open to the public. Information: 631-804-7752.

Music

Friday, Jan. 26, 6-7:30 p.m.: Acoustic jam session at Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library. Music of all ages, many styles of music and levels of ability. Free.

The natural world

Saturday, Jan. 27, 9-11 a.m.: Winter Bird Walk led by Mary Laura Lamont at Hallock State Park Preserve, 6062 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Sponsored by the New York State parks department. 2.5-mile walk with identification of local shore birds, raptors and songbirds. Meet in upper parking lot. Reservations: 631-315-5475. Snow/rain cancels.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m.: Winter Watershed Walk with Peconic Baykeeper and Peconic Estuary Partnership at Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve, 3675 Lake Ave., Riverhead. All ages welcome. Registration required: alexa@peconicbaykeeper.org, valerie.virgona@stonybrook.edu.

Theatre

Fridays-Sundays, Jan. 19-Feb. 4: ‘Wonder of the World’ at North Fork Community Theatre, 12700 Sound Ave, Mattituck. Directed by Robert Horn and produced by Kim Cappiello. Showtimes: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Information and tickets: nfct.com.

Ongoing events

Fridays and Sundays: Roller skating at Greenport American Legion, 102 Third St. All-ages after school skate: Fridays, 3-5-p.m. Admission: $5, includes skates; $5, spectators. All skate for all ages: Fridays, 5-9 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: $10, includes skates; $5 spectators. Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. greenportamericanlegion.org. 

Wednesdays, 5-9 p.m.: Adult skate for ages 18 and up at Greenport American Legion, 102 Third St. Admission: $10, includes skates; $5, spectators. greenportamericanlegion.org. 

Tuesdays, noon-3:30 p.m.: Bingo at Southold American Legion, 51655 Main Road. 631-765-2276.

Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Docent-led tours at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Tickets: $15, adults; $10, seniors and children. 631-298-5292, hallockville.org.

Saturdays, 7 p.m.-midnight: Stargazing at Custer Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Road, Southold, weather permitting. Suggested donation: adults, $5; under 12, $3. 631-765-2626, custerobservatory.org.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Blacksmithing demonstrations with Tom Barry at Village Blacksmith Shop, 101 Front St., Greenport. 631-477-2100, eastendseaport.org.

Exhibitions

Through January: Shared Visions, work by Frances Liburt and friends at Southold Free Library. Information: 631-765-2077.

Through February: Good Ground Artists group show at Mattituck-Laurel Library. Information: 631-298-4134.

Through Feb. 3: Between the Bay and the Sound: A North Fork Family Album at Suffolk County Historical Society, 300 West Main St., Riverhead. Photos from the 1860s to the 1960s from the collection of Ellen Doughty Korsower, curated by Helene Verin. 

Mondays through January, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: New art show arranged by Michelle Schwartz at Congregational Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 519 Fourth St., Greenport. Information: 631-477-0232.

Through Feb. 4: Port + Harbor: Preservation, Not Speculation by Sabina Streeter at Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport, 631-477-0660.

Through February: In the Mind’s Eye, work by Glenn McNab, Martine Abitbol and Gabriella Picone at Cut-ch-ogue Library. 631-734-6360.

Through October: A Sportsman’s Paradise: Man and Nature in Suffolk County’s Past at Suffolk County Historical Society Museum, 300 West Main St., Riverhead. Assortment of hunting equipment, hand-carved decoys, duck boats, fishing gear, themed toys, clothing, magazines and more. 631-727-2881, SuffolkCountyHistoricalSociety.org.

Wednesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Suffolk County: A Timeline Experience at Suffolk County Historical Society Museum, 300 West Main St., Riverhead. Interactive exhibit of artifacts, documents, photos and digital experiences provides a comprehensive timeline of Suffolk County history. 631-727-2881, suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org.

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