Shellfish harvesting temporarily suspended along portions of Peninsula

Posted: Dec 24, 2018 / 05:12 PM EST / Updated: Dec 28, 2018 / 06:22 PM EST

WELLFLEET, MA – JUNE 13: Little neck clams that farmers are prohibited from harvesting are shown June 13, 2005 in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Farmers in Welfleet Harbor are not being allowed to harvest shellfish because of an outbreak of algae bloom known as red tide, called the worst in decades by marine officials. States officials from […]

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Shellfish harvesting along portions of the Peninsula has been temporarily suspended due to a spill of raw sewage.

Virginia Department of Health officials say shellfish taken from a portion of the Back River in Hampton and Poquoson and a portion of Hampton Roads along the Newport News shoreline should not be consumed due to potential pollution hazards.

The harvesting closure is expected to be in effect until Jan. 11, 2019 for the Back River, and Jan. 16 for Newport News.

Officials say a portion of the Back River area was reopened on Dec. 28, but they will continue to sample the water and shellfish from the area and closure for the remaining areas of concern will remain in place.