Emergency Shellfish Closures
February 8, 2010 - Lyons Creek
The waters of Lyons Creek, a tributary of Bennett Creek in the City of Poquoson, have been closed to shellfish harvesting in response to a sewage bypass further upstream. This closure is in effect as of February 8, 2010, and will remain in effect through March 1, 2010.
- Please click here to view Emergency Shellfish Closure # 053-222A corresponding to Lyons Creek.
February 8, 2010 - Monroe Bay & Mattox Creek
The waters of Monroe Bay and Mattox Creek in Westmoreland County have been closed to shellfish harvesting in response to a sewage bypass further upstream. This closure is in effect as of February 8, 2010, and will remain in effect through March 1, 2010.
- Please click here to view Emergency Shellfish Closure # 002-001R corresponding to Monroe Bay and Mattox Creek.
REVISED February 5, 2010 - James River
Floodwaters from heavy rains during January 24-25, 2010 require issuance of an Emergency Shellfish Closure for the James River. This revised emergency closure is effective Friday February 5, 2010 and will remain in effect until seawater sampling results allow these waters to return to their previous classification status.
- Please click here to view the revised Emergency Shellfish Closure # 069K corresponding to the James River.
REVISED February 4, 2010 - Rappahannock River
Floodwaters from heavy rains during January 24-25, 2010 require issuance of an Emergency Shellfish Closure for the Rappahannock River. This revised emergency closure is effective Thursday February 4, 2010 and will remain in effect until seawater sampling results allow these waters to return to their previous classification status.
- Please click here to view the revised Emergency Shellfish Closure # 068F corresponding to the Rappahannock River.
January 25, 2010 - Ragged Island Creek
The waters of the upper reaches of Ragged Island Creek near the Carrollton community of Isle of Wight County have been closed to shellfish harvesting in response to a sewage bypass further upstream. This closure is in effect as of January 25, 2010, and will remain in effect through February 15, 2010.
- Please click here to view Emergency Shellfish Closure # 062-080A corresponding to Ragged Island Creek.
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The Division of Shellfish Sanitation (DSS) is responsible for protecting the health of the consumers of molluscan shellfish and crustacea by ensuring that shellfish growing waters are properly classified for harvesting, and that molluscan shellfish and crustacea processing facilities meet sanitation standards.
The mission of the Division of Shellfish Sanitation is to minimize the risk of disease from molluscan shellfish and crustacea products at the wholesale level by classifying shellfish waters for safe commercial and recreational harvest; by implementing a statewide regulatory inspection program for commercial processors and shippers; and by providing technical guidance and assistance to the shellfish and crustacea industries regarding technical and public health issues.
The vision of the Division of Shellfish Sanitation is to carry out its mission as effectively and efficiently as possible, and to do so in as cooperative a manner as is possible. This involves not only working with shellfish lease holders, processing plant owners and operators, the public at large, and other regulatory agencies and organizations, but also entails working closely and proactively with the Commonwealth’s educational institutions to solve emerging processing and growing area issues as they arise.
Click here for directions to the Division of Shellfish Sanitation, Virginia Department of Health, Madison Building in downtown Richmond.