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Shellfish and Shellfishing in Buzzards Bay

Sub-pages:   Current Shellfish Closures    Shellfish Bed Openings     Red Tide Closures

Related Pages:   B120 Shellfish Oil Spill Closures

Note: Much of the information on this page was based on data kindly provided by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

Where are the shellfish beds in Buzzards Bay?

Nearly every harbor in Buzzards Bay has some good shellfish beds. Most shellfishing occurs very close to shore, particularly in the harbors. There is also some dredging for shellfish, mostly quahogs, in deeper waters offshore.

In the map below are the most pronounced concentrations of commercial and recreational species. This map was developed by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and converted into GIS coverages by the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office.


Click on the map above to open it in another window, or right click here to download to your hard disk.

Go to MassGIS to download the above GIS coverage (requires the ArcView TM software program)

Shellfish Permit Information

You must obtain a shellfish harvesting permit at your town or city hall before you collect shellfish. Two basic permits are available: recreational and commercial permits. Recreational permits may include resident, non-resident, family, and seniors. Below is a summary for Buzzards Bay towns. Not all possible permits shown. Contact your town for the latest fee rates.

Municipality	Commercial	Recreational: Resident	Recreational: Non-Resident	Temporary Non-Resident	Senior	on line regs	Phone for Information (all 508)
Bourne (1)	$650	$35	$135	NA	$10	yes	759-0621
Dartmouth	$225	$15	$75	NA	free at 65	no	910-1819
Fairhaven	$250	$22	$125	NA	free at 62	no	979-4023
Falmouth	$200	$20	$50	NA	$5 at 65	no	495-7334
Marion & Rochester	$150	$25	$120	$25 (30 days)	free at 65	no	748-3535
Mattapoisett (2)	$225	$12	$50	NA	free at 65	no	758-4100
New Bedford (3)	$225	$12	$50	NA	$3 at 59	no	979-1450
Wareham (4)	$900	$30	$120	$30 (2 weeks)	$15 at 65	yes	291-3100 x3186
Westport	$100	$25	$100	NA	$10 at 65	no	636-1105
(1) Commercial Fee for Masters License, quahog $250, clam $250, scallop $250, apprentice $100
(2) Quahog Commercial License : $200 with boat, $100 with no boat.
(3) Quahog only taking allowed, commercial price for full year.
(4) Commercial Fee for Masters License, quahog $400, scallop $400, oyster $400 clam $300, eel $100

What are the size and quantity limits for the taking of shellfish

The table below summarizes the recreational size limits for shellfish, including crustaceans. These are subject to change, and you should consult your municipal shellfish warden.

Recreational Shellfish Regulations
Species	Minimum Size	Other Restrictions
Blue Crab	4 1/8" shell width (spine to spine)	egg bearers cannot be taken; 50 crabs/day; no pots; closed season is 1/1 - 4/30, inclusive
Other Edible Crabs (excludes green crabs)	none	same as for blue crab
Lobster	3 1/4" carapace length 5" carapace maximum length on lobster taken from the Gulf of Maine (includes Cape Cod Bay)	egg bearers cannot be taken; v-notched female lobster cannot be taken; state license required
Bay Scallop	well defined growth ring	consult town regulations
Conch	2 1/2" shell width	consult town regulations
Oyster	3" shell diameter	consult town regulations
Quahog	1" shell thickness	consult town regulations
Sea Scallop	3 1/2" shell height	daily limit of 1 bushel in shell, or 4 quarts of shucked meats
Softshell Clam	2" shell diameter	consult town regulations
Surf Clam	5" shell diameter	consult town regulations

Regulations are subject to change. Contact the Division of Marine Fisheries for details (617) 626-1520 or visit the MA DMF website for updates and Commercial Limits.

Where are the bacterial closures?

Many areas of Buzzards Bay have been closed to shellfish due to bacterial closures. Some of these closures are permanent (year-round), seasonal (summertime), or rainfall conditioned. For example, the closures at the end of Clarks Point in New Bedford, and East of Mishaum Point in Dartmouth are permanent closures because of municipal sewage treatment facility discharges in those areas. Other areas like Sippican Harbor in Marion and West Falmouth Harbor in Falmouth are closed because of elevated bacteria levels or high densities of boats moored during the summer. Most closures around Buzzards Bay are the result of "non-point" land based sources, often conveyed by stormwater runoff.

Go to our Current Shellfish Closures page for more information

Are Conditions getting Better or Worse?

Because of the hard work of Buzzards Bay municipalities and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to address stormwater and other pollution problems, the acreage of permanently closed shellfish beds in Buzzards Bay declined dramatically during the 1990s. The Buzzards Bay BAY NEP helped contribute to this effort through our grant and technical assistance programs. However, recent trends are less positive.

Are permanent shellfish bed closures continuing to decline? Go to our Current shellfish bed closures page to learn more.

Links

PSAT Review of urbanization impacts on shellfish
The Puget Sound Action Team (a fellow NEP) conducted a study to assess the effects of urbanization on water quality in shellfish growing areas. The projectconsited of a literature review, a University of Washington research study to examine correlations between development and bacterial levels in selected Puget Sound watersheds, and development of new shellfish protection guidelines based on these findings and other available information. Read more about this study by clicking on the link above.

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