Shellfishing ban in R.I. waters lifted as algae bloom subsides

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – State officials have lifted an emergency shellfishing ban in Rhode Island waters.

The state’s Department of Environmental Management reported that the ban was over as of sunrise on October 29.

The ban, prompted by an algae bloom that caused a toxin to appear in local shellfish samples, was imposed and lifted several times based on test results. State officials said late Friday that the algae bloom has subsided.

However, because of recent rainfall, conditional harvesting areas with the exception of Area B are still closed and will remain so until noon on November 4th.

The DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing information hotline at 401-222-2900.