Prudence Island shellfishing area to close temporarily due to boating event

Published On: July 25, 2025

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will temporarily close 700 acres of shellfishing waters around Prudence Island next week as a precautionary measure ahead of an expected large gathering of boats.

The closure will take effect July 26 and remain in place until sunrise on August 2, covering waters south and west from Providence Point to the northwest extension of Warner Avenue on Prudence Island.

DEM officials say the temporary ban is necessary due to the risk of sewage discharge when large numbers of vessels concentrate in areas like Potter’s Cove. While Rhode Island’s “No Discharge” law prohibits boats from releasing sewage into state waters, the concentration of many watercraft in a small area for extended periods raises public health concerns.

“With many boats and watercraft concentrated in such a small area for hours, federal and state guidance requires that the shellfish harvest area be closed to protect public health,” DEM stated in announcing the closure.

The precautionary measure allows sufficient time and water volume for any potential sewage discharge to be properly diluted before shellfishing operations resume.

Rhode Island maintains an extensive network of 14 pump-out boats and 51 public pump-out facilities across Narragansett Bay and coastal waters to help boaters comply with discharge regulations. However, few of these facilities operate near Prudence Island’s north shore. Last year, the state’s pump-out program safely removed more than 650,000 gallons of sewage that would otherwise have entered coastal waters.

The temporary closure reflects ongoing efforts by DEM, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the RI Coastal Resources Management Council, and shellfishing partners to maintain the state’s reputation for high-quality shellfish through careful monitoring and stewardship.

Shellfishermen can find current information on seasonal closures and harvest classifications in the annual notice available at

www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish

, which also features an interactive shellfishing map.

For updates on emergency and conditional water quality-related shellfish closures, shellfishermen can call DEM’s 24-hour hotline at 401-222-2900 or subscribe to email updates at

[email protected]