MAINE, USA — An emergency closure was issued for Shellfish Harvesting Area 500 due to a sewage spill on Wednesday, officials say.
A news release from the Maine Department of Marine Resources announced the closure of the Scarborough and Nonesuch Rivers, according to the release.
"Effective immediately, because of pollution, it shall be unlawful to dig, take or possess any clams, quahogs, oysters, mussels, whole or roe-on scallops from the shores, flats, and waters," the release stated.
The guidelines apply to the following areas:
- Scarborough and Nonesuch Rivers: North of a line that begins at the southern tip of Prouts Neck in Scarborough, which runs west to the opposite shore in Surfside, Old Orchard Beach.
- Webhannet River in Wells: North of a line that runs northwest from the southern edge of the parking lot at the end of Foster Lane to the point of land at the end of Atlantic Avenue.
"We keep areas impacted by raw sewage closed for 21 days from the date of repair to ensure that shellfish growing in the waters will be safe for consumers. This is based on an established standard set by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program," Maine Department of Marine Resources spokesperson Jeff Nichols told NEWS CENTER Maine via email Thursday. "We are keeping the closure in Wells in place until the final repair work is completed and then there will be a 21 day period prior to reopening to ensure the sanitation of shellfish for human consumption."
For questions regarding the area closure, contact the Department of Marine Resources by calling 207-633-9500 or emailing DMRPublicHealthDiv@maine.gov.
