Improved water quality from sewage, septic and stormwater upgrades in the nation's iconic clam towns — Gloucester, Essex and Ipswich — are paying off through extended clam harvesting times and open areas.
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries announced yesterday that testing has confirmed the improved control of runoff and pollutants, and that's translated into 40 percent more harvesting days in the three communities.
According to the division's statement, closings had been required for five days after between 0.25 inches and 0.4 inches of rainfall depending on time of year; but now, the closings will be required only after 0.6 inches of rain in summer and 1 inch of rain in winter.
The less stringent closing conditions affects nearly 1,900 acres of North Shore flats year-round, and another 459 acres will be opened to harvesting, the Division of Marine Fisheries statement indicated.
According to Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries figures from 2007 and 2008, close to 2 million pounds of soft-shell clams are harvested each year in Greater Essex Bay, with value of approximately $2.5 million. That comprises about 31 percent of the total Massachusetts soft-shell clam fishery.
The Greater Essex Bay area includes both the inner and outer Essex Bay shellfish areas and the Castle Neck River. Soft-shell clams are the predominant and most valuable shellfish in this area, which also supports a razor clam fishery.
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