The Division of Marine Fisheries notified the Harbormaster/Shellfish Department on Thursday, March 3, that all areas affected by the recent precautionary shellfishing closure, caused by a sewer main rupture in the area of the Stone Bridge on Onset Avenue, have been permitted to reopen.

Although the spill was determined to be relatively small, a precautionary closure is required by the Division of Marine Fisheries for a minimum of seven days. This allows the affected areas to flush. During that time, water samples are collected from various locations in the affected areas and tested for fecal coliform. In this case, all test samples came back with negative results. With these findings, the Division of Marine Fisheries made the determination to reopen the shellfish beds that were encompassed in the closure for the minimum time period of seven days.

The closure line was from the southeast corner of the Onset Pier to the mean low tidal mark on Point Independence, including all points north of the determined line. Onset Beach, from the east side of the Onset Pier to the Stone Bridge, the East River, north and south of the Stone Bridge, Broad Cove, and Muddy Cove were all affected by the closure.