VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Portions of Broad Bay are closed to shellfish harvesting through the end of the month, the Virginia Department of Health announced on Monday.

The closure is due to a sewage release that happened on Nov. 8.

“Because these waters can be contaminated with pollutants such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses, shellfish taken from the area affected by the emergency closure are currently unacceptable for consumption,” the Virginia Department of Health said in a statement.

The temporary emergency closure is in effect Nov. 10-30. However, the Shellfish Safety Division will conduct sampling and reopen the water to shellfish harvesting earlier, if it is safe to do so.

The affected shellfish are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks, including oysters and clams, but not crabs or fin

See Full Page