PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management reminds shellfishermen that Greenwich Bay will be closed to shellfishing as of December 1. However, the Department will re-open several shellfish management areas to commercial harvest at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, December 12. The holiday season is economically important to commercial shellfishermen because of high consumer demand for traditional holiday shellfish meals.

Areas to open are: the Bissel Cove/Fox Island Management Area and High Banks Management Area, both in North Kingstown, and Bristol Harbor in Bristol. Those areas will be open to shellfishing from a boat from 8 a.m. until noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through April 30. There is a daily catch limit of three bushels per day per license holder.

Additional information is available by calling Dennis Erkan at 423-1932. Information on shellfish regulations and maps are also available at DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov. For regulation information, click on "Fish and Wildlife" under "Regulations" from the home page, then "Marine Fisheries Statues and Regulations". For shellfish maps, click on "Maps" on the home page, then "Paper Maps", and then "Shellfish Grounds, Closures, and Approved Areas". Bay closure information can be obtained by calling DEM's bay closure information line at 222-2900