EMERGENCY SHELLFISHING CLOSURE
From Harwich Natural Resources:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
October 10, 2016
RE: EMERGENCY Shellfishing CLOSURE
The Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that all approved
and conditionally approved areas in the municipalities of Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis,Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Aquinnah, Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Nantucket, no longer meet thee established criteria for a status of "OPEN TO SHELLFISHING" due to a potentially toxic phytoplankton bloom in the waters of Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound and south of Cape Cod, which can cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). This closure takes effect at sunrise on October10, 2016.
Under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Sections 74A, and 75, the status of the below defined areas shall be changed to "CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING". Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish from the below defined areas are prohibited. Under authority of322 CMR 7.01 (7) all permits issued there under are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish from the below defined areas.
CLASSIFICATION: APPROVED AND CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
TOXIC PLANKTON BLOOM CLOSURE
Status: Closed To Shellfishing - Nantucket Sound and south of Cape Cod
"The waters, flats and all tributaries of Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound and south coast of Cape Cod”,with the exception of bay and sea scallop adductor muscles and carnivorous snails including conchs and whelks.
The preceding areas shall remain in the closed status until examined by the Division of Marine Fisheries and notification is made.
Herring River – CLOSED
Allen Harbor + Oyster Creek – CLOSED
Wychmere Harbor – CLOSED
Saquatucket Channel – CLOSED
Harwich beaches facing Nantucket Sound – CLOSED
Pleasant Bay (at this time) is still open.