By Associated Press - Thursday, March 23, 2017

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has announced plans to lift its ban on shellfishing in waters bordering the southern part of the state.

The Providence Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2o9PMgW ) the closure that affected areas of the Rhode Island Sound, lower Narragansett Bay and the lower Sakonnet River will end on Friday at sunrise.

The ban was enacted March 1 after high levels of a toxin-producing algae were detected in samples of mussels taken from those waters. Recent testing has shown a decrease in the presence of domoic acid, a neurotoxin that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning.

DEM officials said Thursday that all shellfish currently on the market is now safe from domoic acid.

The state routinely monitors Rhode Island waters for the harmful algae.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, https://www.providencejournal.com

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