Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Department of Environmental Management has announced that seasonal shellfish openings will take effect at sunrise Tuesday.

The agency closed these areas to the harvesting of shellfish in May due to potential water quality impacts associated with marinas and mooring fields, the DEM said in a news release.

The areas seasonally opened to shellfish harvesting include waters within the following areas: Block Island (Great Salt Pond), Bristol Harbor, Potter Cove [Prudence Island], Sakonnet Harbor, Wickford Harbor [Fishing Cove], Dutch Harbor [Jamestown], and a portion of the Kickemuit River.

However, shellfish harvesting in a small portion of the Sheffield Cove shellfishing area in Jamestown will remain closed due to elevated bacteria levels, the DEM said. The area encompasses 3.4 acres of shellfishing grounds and includes those waters of Sheffield Cove north and east of a line from the DEM range marker at the southernmost part of land along the south side of Maple Avenue to the DEM range marker on the easterly side of Sheffield Cove.

High bacteria levels found in the drainage system in the Maple Avenue/Spring Street area of Jamestown are causing unacceptable bacteria levels in the immediate receiving waters.

A recorded list of areas closed to shellfish harvesting can be heard on DEM's shellfish information line, (401) 222-2900.

 Tags  Block Island RI Jamestown RI Shellfishing Wickford Harbor

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.