Ladies and Gentlemen:

In accordance with Chapter 130, section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that certain waters of  the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the City of Gloucester and the Towns of Essex, Ipswich and Marblehead (shellfish growing/classification areas N7.5, N7.6, N8, N12 and N21) no longer meet the requirements for an open status due to unacceptable water quality resulting from an ongoing heavy rain event.

Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, sections 74A and 75, the below-defined areas have been placed in a “Closed” status to the taking of all shellfish.  Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish from the below-defined areas is prohibited.

Under authority of 322 CMR 7.01 (7) all permits issued there under are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish as defined above from the below-defined areas. 

STATUS: CLOSED TO THE TAKING OF ALL SHELLFISH AS DEFINED ABOVE 

N7.5 (Lower Castle Neck River)

“The waters, flats, and tributaries of the Castle Neck River in the Towns of Essex and Ipswich within the following metes and bounds:  east of line drawn due south to a red/orange marker on the south bank of the Castle Neck River from the dock on the property now or formerly owned by E. Jennings at 207 Argilla Road; north of a line drawn from a red/orange marker on the western-most tip of Hog Island due west to a red/orange marker on the eastern bank of the State Wildlife Management Area;  west of a line drawn due north to red/orange marker on the Castle Neck spit from the boulder on the north shore of Long Island.”

N7.6 (Outer Essex Bay) 

“The waters, flats and tributaries of Essex Bay in the City of Gloucester and the Towns of Essex and Ipswich within the following metes and bounds: East of line drawn due north from the boulder on the north side of Long Island to a red/orange marker on the Castle Neck spit; east of a line drawn southeasterly from the Choate House on Hog Island to a boulder with a red/orange colored mark on the western most point of Corn Island; east of line drawn southeasterly from the relic chimney on the southeast most point of Cross Island to a red/orange colored marker near Tommy Island and the Essex/Gloucester corporate boundary; north and west of line drawn northeasterly from a rock outcropping with a red/orange mark on the property at No. 175 Concord Street to the green colored No. 3 Spindle; north of a line drawn due east from the green colored No. 3 Spindle to Two Loaf; and west of a line drawn southeasterly from the southern most tip of Crane’s Beach to the northern tip of Two Penny Loaf."

N8

“The waters and flats of the shoreline in the City of Gloucester known as Coffins Beach, from the northern-most point of Two Penny Loaf southeasterly to Farm Point, out to the State Territorial Limit.” 

N12

“The waters and flats of the Gloucester shoreline from the Gloucester/Rockport town line at Brier Neck southwesterly to the easterly point at Bass Rocks, extending to the State Territorial Limit, not including N12.1.”

N21

“The waters, flats and tributaries of the Marblehead shoreline, east of a line from the northern extremity of Marblehead Neck to Peach Point, and south and west of a line from Peach Point seaward to the Marblehead town boundary in Massachusetts Bay, and north and east of a line from the Marblehead / Swampscott town line seaward to the Marblehead town boundary in Massachusetts Bay.”

The above-described areas shall remain closed until further notice. All other shellfish growing areas will be closed in accordance with their management plans as agreed upon between the Division of Marine Fisheries and their respective communities.