VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OPENS A PORTION OF THE LOWER JAMES RIVER TO SHELLFISH HARVESTING

November 14, 2012

(RICHMOND, Va.)— The Virginia Department of Health announced today that a portion of the Lower James River will be opened for shellfish harvesting effective November 15, 2012. The remainder of the lower portion of the James River and the Lynnhaven River system will remain closed to shellfish harvesting due to floodwaters caused by tidal flooding and excessive rainfall. This change modifies the emergency closure that was put into effect November 8, 2012.

Maps of the affected areas are posted on the Division of Shellfish Sanitation’s home page atwww.vdh.virginia.gov/Shellfish/. The affected shellfish are bivalve mollusks including oysters and clams, but not crabs or fin fish.

For more information on shellfish closures, see the frequently asked questions on shellfish condemnations atwww.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Shellfish/faq/.