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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 RHODE ISLAND WATERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<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">Most conditional harvest areas remain closed due to rainfall</span></i><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></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"> – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today that effective at sunrise
on Saturday, October 29, the emergency shellfishing closure for Rhode Island waters will be lifted. The closure was due to a harmful algae bloom that has now subsided. All conditional harvesting areas, with the exception of Area B, remain closed due to rainfall
and are scheduled to reopen at noon on Friday, November 4. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">During the emergency closure, DEM and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) analyzed nearly 150 water and shellfish samples from throughout Rhode Island waters for the presence
of domoic acid – a toxin responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. Recent test results for shellfish have been negative. DEM will continue to monitor local waters as part of its regular survey program.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Closed conditional areas include Area A, Conimicut Triangle, Greenwich Bay, Mt. Hope Bay, and the Kickemuit River. Area B is open. For updates on shellfish closure areas, contact the
DEM 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900. Subscribe to the DEM Marine Fisheries email list 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"> or visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/shellfishclosure"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov/shellfishclosure</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> for more information on the recent harmful algae bloom
in Rhode Island waters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on
</span><a href="http://DEM"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">DEM</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> divisions and programs, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/index.htm"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or
on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">Rose Amoros Jones, MBA</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"> | Chief Public Affairs Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">401.222.4700 x 7273 (O); 401.340.0182 (C)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:rose.jones@dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:blue">rose.jones@dem.ri.gov</span></a> (E);
<a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="color:blue">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a> (W)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
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