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<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">EMERGENCY SHELLFISHING CLOSURE LIFTED FOR NARRAGANSETT BAY, LOCAL WATERS</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Impacted waters reopen effective noon today; conditional areas closed through Monday, October 17</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> – Effective at noon today, all waters impacted by the
<span style="letter-spacing:.1pt">precautionary shellfish harvesting closure in Rhode Island are open to shellfishing with exception of conditional areas which remain closed due to rainfall and are scheduled to reopen at noon on Monday, October 17.
</span>The emergency closure was due to a confirmed harmful algae bloom caused by the presence of toxic phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia spp.<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="letter-spacing:.1pt">
</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.1pt">Impacted waters include Narragansett Bay, Mt. Hope Bay, Kickemuit River, Sakonnet River and their tributaries.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">During the emergency closure, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) analyzed water and shellfish samples for the presence of
the toxin, domoic acid. Two water samples tested positive for this toxin; shellfish samples from the area tested negative – along with all other shellfish samples collected throughout the Bay during this closure. Based on these negative results and the bloom’s
decline, the closure is being lifted earlier than expected. DEM and RIDOH will continue to monitor impacted waters – collecting and analyzing samples twice per week.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For updates on shellfish closure areas, contact the DEM 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900. To join the DEM Marine Fisheries email list, subscribe at
</span><a href="mailto:rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. For more
information on </span><a href="http://DEM"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">DEM</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> divisions and programs, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/index.htm"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for
timely updates.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">-30-</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">You are receiving this notice from the RIDEM, DFW, Marine Fisheries, rimarinefisheries listserve.
<b><u>This is an automated message system; please do not reply to this email</u>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list, (if you have trouble unsubscribing) send email
to <</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:rimarinefisheries-owner@listserve.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">rimarinefisheries-owner@listserve.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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