Contamination forced the closure of shellfish harvesting yesterday in areas of Rhode Island Sound, lower Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River.
The ban will remain in effect while the R.I. Health Department conducts further water tests.
According to state environment officials, the ban was issued because of a harmful algae bloom caused by phytoplankton. Carnivorous snails, such as whelk and moon snails, still can be farmed, officials said.
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