Politics & Government
Norwalk, Westport Shellfish Beds to Remain Closed into September
The shellfish beds in the waters off Norwalk and Westport will remain closed by state order until at least the middle of September, according to officials.
The shellfish beds in the waters off of Norwalk and Westport harbors will remain closed until the middle of September at the earliest, according to the state Department of Agriculture.
Officials closed the beds last week after samples tested positive for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that can cause illness when ingested. Oysters, mussels, hard clams, littleneck clams, chowder clams, quahogs, and soft-shell/steamer clams, all of which are harvested in the area, are vulnerable to the naturally occurring bacterium, which also prompted officials to call for a voluntary recall of such shellfish
The bacterium thrives in warmer water, which has been the case this summer due to heat waves in recent weeks, particularly in July.
David Carey, the state's director of the Bureau of Agriculture, said he hopes the federal Food and Drug Administration will be able to test area waters in early September, which should mean the beds can be opened around Sept. 15.
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“That's what we anticipate,” said Carey, adding with water temperatures still warm, testing them now would not yield favorable results. “We're not going to open the beds piecemeal.”
Consumers are warned to continue to avoid eating shellfish harvested from these areas. If eaten, seek medical attention if symptoms occur, which can include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, chills and fever.Find out what's happening in Wiltonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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