The Virginia Department of Health is closing Chesapeake Bay tributaries, including in Hampton Roads, to shellfish harvesting because of last week’s nor’easter, effective today through Dec. 2.
The affected shellfish include oysters, clams and scallops. Crabs and fin fish are not banned.
The storm’s heavy rainfall caused wastewater to overflow into the Bay’s tributaries. Because of potential microbiological and chemical pollution hazards, shellfish taken from areas affected by the closure are unacceptable for consumption.
Ingesting shellfish taken from these areas during the emergency closure could cause gastrointestinal illnesses, including norovirus, hepatitis A and shigellosis.
The closure includes the waters of Hampton Roads, the lower James River and the Lynnhaven River watershed, Cockrell Creek, Totuskey Creek, and waters bordering the Chesapeake Bay from York County to Hampton.
For more information about the shellfish closures, visit the Virginia Department of Health's Web site.
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It would be interesting to
It would be interesting to find out how the salinity of the bay was affected by this nor-easter. I had read previously when there is too much fresh water in the Bay from heavy rains, it has a detrimental effect on the entire bay including the sea life and vegetation.