The Virginia Department of Health announced today that the Poquoson River and its tributaries are closed to harvesting shellfish due to a sewage release that occurred on December 16, 2025. Because these waters can be contaminated with pollutants such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses, shellfish taken from the area affected by the emergency closure are currently unacceptable for consumption. The temporary emergency closure is set to be effective from December 17, 2025, through January 6, 2026.
Ingesting shellfish taken from the closed areas at this time could cause gastrointestinal illnesses including Norovirus, Hepatitis A and Shigellosis. In addition, the Virginia Department of Health urges the public to minimize exposure to the water by rinsing or washing items that come into contact with the water, including fishing gear, life vests, ropes and paddles.
A map of the affected area is posted on the Division of Shellfish Safety’s home page at www.vdh.virginia.gov/Shellfish/. The affected shellfish are filter-feeding bivalve mollusks including oysters and clams but not crabs or fin fish.