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Paul J. Diodati
Director

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
251 Causeway Street, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626.1520
Fax (617) 626.1509
Massachusetts State Seal
Deval Patrick
Governor
Ian Bowles
Secretary
Mary B. Griffin
Commissioner

July 28, 2008

Mayors and Boards of Selectmen of the following cities and towns: Essex , Gloucester , Ipswich , Manchester , Newbury, Newburyport , Rockport, Rowley, and Salisbury

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that Razor clams Ensis directus from the below-defined areas no longer contain biotoxins (Paralytic Shellfish Poison - (PSP)) from the phytoplankton Alexandrium (spp.) in excess of established standards. These areas remain closed to the harvesting of Surf clams, carnivorous snails and whole Sea scallops (with the exception of the adductor muscle of the Sea scallop).

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74A and 75 and 322 CMR sections 7.01 (7), 7.02 and 10.00, the PSP closures for Razor clams on May 15, 2008 will be rescinded at sunrise on Tuesday July 29, 2008 in the below-defined areas. Razor clams in areas currently classified as APPROVED and in the “open” status may be harvested on Tuesday July 29, 2008 for direct human consumption subject to local rules and regulations under authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 130, section 52. Similarly, those areas classified as CONDITIONALLY APPROVED or CONDITIONALLY RESTRICTED and in the “open” status are subject to the classification conditions. All previous bacterial closures remain in effect. These areas remain closed to the harvesting of Surf clams, carnivorous snails and whole Sea scallops (with the exception of the adductor muscle of the Sea scallop).

Status: Open to the Harvesting of Razor clams. These areas remain closed to the harvesting of Surf clams, carnivorous snails and whole Sea scallops (with the exception of the adductor muscle of the Sea scallop).

“The waters, flats and all tributaries in the above-listed cities and towns and those marine waters managed by the Commonwealth from the New Hampshire/Massachusetts state boundary to the Gloucester/Manchester-by-the-Sea municipal line, areas N1 through N14.”

 

Sincerely,

______________________
Paul J. Diodati
Director

 

c: J. Hanlon, R. Arduini, K. Dolan, J. Tulik, G. Duncan, OLE
D. McKiernan, M. Hickey, D. Whittaker, J. Kennedy DMF
WPC, DEP
FDA
DPH
Shellfish Constables of the above-listed cities and towns