Recall of shellfish harvested in Wellfleet, Massachusetts unrelated to local closure

PROVIDENCE - The precautionary shellfish harvesting closure announced last week for Narragansett Bay, Mt. Hope Bay, Kickemuit River, Sakonnet River and their tributaries remains in effect. The closure is due to a confirmed harmful algae bloom caused by the presence of toxic phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia spp.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health continue to collect and test water and shellfish samples for the presence of the toxin, domoic acid. One water sample collected east of Whale Rock off Narragansett (West Passage) recently tested positive for this toxin; shellfish samples from the area are currently being analyzed. To date, all shellfish samples collected in the Bay have tested negative. Continued negative results in shellfish samples could allow the closure to be lifted as early as next week. Today’s recall announcement for shellfish harvested in Wellfleet, Massachusetts is unrelated to Rhode Island’s precautionary shellfishing closure. Rhode Island shellfish available in the marketplace is safe to eat.

For updates on shellfish closure areas, contact the DEM 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900. To join the DEM Marine Fisheries email list, subscribe at rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov. 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/