Update on emergency shellfish closure in RI waters

Update from RI Marine Fisheries

10/13/16

There was no toxicity found in the 10/12/16 quahog sample that DEM Marine Fisheries (DMF) staff collected on the West Side of Prudence Island.

RIDOH completed cell counts on the last three samples collected on 10/12: Newport Harbor = 61,973 cells/l, Sakonnet - Mid River off Sapowet Cove = 719 cells/l, Conditional Area B = 11,952 cells/l.

RIDOH ran toxicity screening tests on 5 of the plankton samples collected on 10/12. Toxicity detected in the plankton sample collected at the mouth of the West Passage. No toxicity was found in the other 4 plankton samples from the West Passage North of Dutch Island, mouth of East Passage, Newport Harbor, and between Conanicut Island and Prudence Island.

Tomorrow 10/14 DMF will take shellfish samples from the mouth of the West Passage and RIDOH will conduct toxicity screening tests on those samples.

Of the testing done to date, no toxicity was found in any shellfish samples, toxicity has been found in 2 plankton samples (both from areas currently closed to harvesting).

No additional phytoplankton sampling was done today.

DEM and RIDOH staff requested and held a conference call with the multi-agency organization Gulf of Maine Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) research team to strategize on the latest science, factors to consider when developing a plan for assessing the ability to reopen harvesting, and ideas for a plan for on-going monitoring.

A draft plan for assessing the ability to reopen harvesting and a plan for on-going monitoring are being developed. The plan includes consideration of a partial reopening.

The results MA expected to receive today will be available tomorrow.

10/14/16 (Plan of action)

DEM and RIDOH staff will meet to review a draft plan for assessing the ability to reopen harvesting, draft a plan for on-going monitoring, to review cell counts and toxicity results from RI waters, review results available from MA, and to review input received from the Gulf of Maine HAB research team and from the state of MA.

DMF will take shellfish and plankton samples from the mouth of the West Passage and RIDOH will conduct toxicity screening tests on both, results are expected late in the day.

Additional areas closed effective sunrise on Saturday, October 8

PROVIDENCE - In an update to the precautionary shellfish harvesting closure announced yesterday for Narragansett Bay, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced shellfishing is also prohibited in all waters of Mt. Hope Bay, Kickemuit River and the Sakonnet River north of a line from Sachuest Point in Newport to Sakonnet Point in Little Compton, effective sunrise on Saturday, October 8. All tributaries to those waters are restricted as well.

The closures are due to a confirmed harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by the presence of toxic phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia spp.  The harvest restriction does not apply to carnivorous snails such as whelk and moon snails.

Given the high concentrations of phytoplankton in several areas of Narragansett Bay and the confirmed presence of toxins in the phytoplankton, and out of an abundance of caution, all portions of the Bay where these elevated levels were found are being closed to shellfish harvesting.

DEM, in partnership with RIDOH, has and will continue to collect local shellfish for analysis to determine if the toxins are present in shellfish meats at levels of concern. The toxin, known as domoic acid, produced by these phytoplankton is responsible for causing amnesiac shellfish poisoning (ASP) in humans. Symptoms of ASP include short- and long-term memory loss along with other serious health effects.

For updates on shellfish closure areas, contact the DEM 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900. For more information on DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.

To learn more about the RI Shellfish Management Plan, please visit:  http://www.rismp.org/