State Lifts Shellfishing Ban, Mount Hope Bay, Narragansett Bay

BRISTOL, RI -- The state Department of Environmental Management on Saturday lifted the emergency ban that closed much of Narragansett and Mount Hope Bay to shellfishing.

The other so-called "conditional areas," however, remained closed until noon today.

"Impacted waters include Narragansett Bay, Mt. Hope Bay, Kickemuit River, Sakonnet River and their tributaries," the DEM said.

The ban, called a precautionary closure, was due to an algae bloom, "caused by the presence of toxic phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia spp," the agency said.

However, the waters reopened earlier than expected due to tests, conducted by DEM and the state health department. According to the results, none of the shellfish tested positive for the toxin, domoic acid. Two water samples did. However, the algae bloom has since diminished.

The DEM and state health department will continue to conduct tests twice weekly to monitor the situation.