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The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has closed two new sections of P.E.I.'s South Shore to shellfishing following heavy rain earlier this week.

Late Wednesday, DFO closed an area of P.E.I.'s southern shore including Summerside Harbour, Bedeque Bay and Dunk River to bivalve fishing.

This is on top of a closure announced earlier in the day, where DFO shut down runs from Gordon Point, east of Victoria, to MacIvors Point, west of Confederation Bridge. DFO is concerned runoff from the shore may have contaminated the water.

DFO has told oyster fishermen in the Tryon River to pull their boats because of high bacteria counts.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans has closed a third area of P.E.I.'s South Shore to shellfishing following high bacteria counts after heavy rain earlier this week.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans has closed a third area of P.E.I.'s South Shore to shellfishing following high bacteria counts after heavy rain earlier this week. (220)

Brian Campbell was among about 100 fishermen affected by the closure.

"They claim that the water tests have come back with a high count," said Campbell. "A lot of them have to dump their catch. There has got to be a better system of notifying people."

Earlier this month DFO shut down the entire eastern end of the province, from Dalvay to the Hillsborough River. A small part of that section east of Charlottetown remains closed.