Millsboro Wastewater Spill Closes Indian River Bay to Recreational Bivalve Shellfish Harvest Through Aug. 24

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has declared an emergency closure for recreational clamming and mussel harvest in Indian River Bay until Aug. 24. DNREC’s mandatory closure protective of public health came after a pump station connected to the town of Millsboro’s sanitary sewer system failed today, discharging raw sewage into the Iron Branch, a tributary of the Indian River, which flows into the bay.

The harvest of crabs, conch and finfish are not affected by the closure. Oysters grown commercially under aquaculture leases in Rehoboth Bay are not impacted or affected by the Indian River Bay closure. Recreational harvest of oysters is prohibited in Delaware.

The wastewater spill has potentially caused fecal contamination of shellfish in Indian River Bay, which according to National Shellfish Sanitation Program requirements, must be closed to bivalve shellfish harvest for 21 days to protect public health. The 21-day closure of shellfish harvest is a federal guideline that also gives bivalves time for natural cleansing.

DNREC also advises recreational water users to limit water contact in the upper Indian River Bay for the next few days, particularly in waters near the location of the spill.

The spill was stopped Wednesday afternoon. DNREC Division of Water staff are monitoring repairs at the Millsboro pump station. Delaware Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police working with the DNREC Delaware Shellfish Program are patrolling and monitoring Indian River Bay to enforce the closure of the bay to recreational bivalve harvest and to ensure recreational clammers are aware of it. More information about the closure and the Delaware Shellfish Program under DNREC authority can be found at de.gov/shellfish.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Water manages and protects Delaware’s water resources. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on FacebookInstagramTwitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie,  nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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Delaware Shellfish Advisory Council to meet Jan. 7 in Dover

DOVER – Delaware’s Shellfish Advisory Council will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7 in the DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

The Council will discuss the Delaware Bay oyster stock status and 2020 oyster harvest quota, 2020 blue crab population outlook, possible revisions to shellfish aquaculture regulations and other topics. For more information, including the meeting agenda, visit the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/63873.

For more information on Delaware fisheries, please call DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902


Delaware Shellfish Advisory Council to meet Nov. 7 in Dover

DOVER – Delaware’s Shellfish Advisory Council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 in the DNREC Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

The Council will discuss its reorganization and will receive updates on conch research and Inland Bays shellfish aquaculture. For more information, including the meeting agenda, visit the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60693.

For more information on Delaware fisheries, please call DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 300


DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announces acreage availability for shellfish aquaculture

Inland Bays’ interactive shellfish aquaculture map to be updated May 10

The logo for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental ControlDOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife announced today that acreage will be made available for Inland Bays’ shellfish aquaculture lease starting later this month. Some acreage previously classified as “Pending” on the interactive Shellfish Aquaculture Development Area map will be updated starting May 10 to “Available.” This change comes after DNREC did not receive complete applications for these acres by a one-year deadline set by the Department that expired May 2.

DNREC will update the interactive shellfish aquaculture map – also accessible via the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Inland Bays Shellfish Aquaculture webpage – to reflect the acres that have been returned to the catalog of acreage available for lease. For acres marked “available” on the updated interactive shellfish map, the Division of Fish & Wildlife will accept new lease applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

In order to apply for available acreage, applicants must submit a complete application and a $300 application fee to the Division of Fish & Wildlife. Visit the Inland Bays Shellfish Aquaculture webpage for the application and for additional information. Interested applicants can also contact Zina Hense at (302) 735-2960 for more details.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 107

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DNREC to accept applications for Inland Bays shellfish aquaculture leases on a first-come, first-served basis

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will begin accepting more Inland Bays shellfish aquaculture lease applications postmarked after midnight Tuesday, Dec. 5 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Initial applications were made after a lottery was held in May to determine the order of selection. Now that all of the lottery participants have selected their potential lease locations, applications are being accepted by DNREC for the remainder of the available acreage.

Beginning after midnight on Dec. 5, applications and a required $300 application fee can be sent via certified mail to the Division of Fish & Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. No in-person or electronically-delivered applications will be accepted. The order of the applications for selecting lease locations will be determined by their postmarked dates.

Available acres within the state-approved Shellfish Aquaculture Development Areas (SADA) are indicated on the interactive shellfish map, and the SADA application is on the DNREC Shellfish Aquaculture Program webpage. Applicants may also apply for acreage outside of SADA areas, via a separate non-SADA application, also linked to the webpage.

For more information on Inland Bays’ shellfish aquaculture, or on the first-come, first-served application submission process, please visit DNREC’s Shellfish Aquaculture webpage, or contact DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife 302-735-2960.

Vol. 47, No. 252

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902