The Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that Soft-shelled clams Mya arenaria and Blue mussels Mytilus edulis from the below-defined areas no longer contain biotoxins (Paralytic Shellfish Poison-( PSP )) from the phytoplankton Alexandrium (spp.) in excess of established standards. This area remains closed to the harvesting of all other shellfish.

Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, sections 74A and 75 and 322 CMR sections 7.01 (7), 7.02 and 10.00, the PSP closures for Blue mussels and Soft-shelled clams on May 15, 2008 will be rescinded at sunrise on July 4, 2008 in the below-defined areas. Blue mussels and Soft-shelled clams in areas currently classified as APPROVED and in the “open” status may be harvested on July 4, 2008 for direct human consumption subject to local rules and regulations and conditional classification status under authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 130, section 52. Similarly, those areas classified as CONDTIONALLY APPROVED and in the “open” status are subject to the classification conditions. Harvesting of all other shellfish from the below-defined areas shall remain prohibited until such time as the Division of Marine Fisheries determines that they no longer contain PSP.

Status: Open to Shellfish Harvesting of Blue mussels and Soft-shelled clams only. This area remains closed to the harvesting of all other shellfish.

N4
Plum Island Sound

The waters, flats and tributaries of Plum Island Sound south of a line drawn from the northerly bank of Pine Island Creek east across the Plum Island River to Plum Island in the Town of Newbury and north of a line drawn from the southern end of Plum Island west to the easterly point of Little Neck in the Town of Ipswich.

N5
Ipswich River

The waters and flats of the Ipswich River west of a line drawn from the southeastern-most point on Little Neck in the Town of Ipswich to the northwestern-most point of Steep Hill Beach on Cranes Neck in Ipswich .

N9
Annisquam River

The waters, flats and tributaries of the Annisquam River from the Blynman Bridge (Rt. 127) north to an imaginary line drawn from Farm Point to Wigwam Point in the City of Gloucester.