December 18, 2023
Media Contact: Larry Hill, Eastern Region PIO, 757-449-4287, larry.hill@vdh.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Health Closes a Portion of Monroe Bay and Rosier Creek to Shellfish Harvesting
RICHMOND, Va.— The Virginia Department of Health announced today that Monroe Bay including Mattox Creek in Westmoreland County and Rosier Creek in King George and Westmoreland Counties are closed to shellfish harvesting due to sewage releases. Because these waters can be contaminated with pollutants such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses, shellfish taken from the area affected by the emergency closure are currently unacceptable for consumption. The temporary emergency closure is set to be effective from December 18, 2023, through January 7, 2024.
Ingesting shellfish taken from the closed areas at this time could cause gastrointestinal illnesses including Norovirus, Hepatitis A and Shigellosis.
A map of the affected area is posted on the Division of Shellfish Safety’s home page at www.vdh.virginia.gov/Shellfish/. The affected shellfish are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks including oysters and clams, but not crabs or fin fish.
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