Seasonal shellfish waters reopen Tuesday

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management says seasonal shellfish openings will take place at sunrise Tuesday.

The areas that will open to shellfish harvesting include Great Salt Pond on Block Island, Bristol Harbor, Potter Cove on Prudence Island, Sakonnet Harbor, Wickford Harbor Fishing Cove, Dutch Harbor in Jamestown, and a portion of the Kickemuit River.

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

A recorded list of areas closed to shellfish harvesting can be heard on DEM’s shellfish information line at 401-222-2900.