North Shore Shellfish 2026 Relief Program - Haverhill Wastewater Discharge

Governor Healey announced $300,000 in financial assistance to support shellfish harvesters affected by the Haverhill wastewater discharge and the resulting July 2026 shellfish closures. This webpage includes updates and information for eligible shellfishers to apply for relief related to this event.

UPDATE: Relief payments were mailed to approved applicants on September 12, 2026.

On June 26, 2026, following a torrential rainfall, a 42-inch sewer main near the South Mill Street Pump Station in Haverhill failed, with a second break discovered shortly afterward. As a result, untreated wastewater was discharged into the Merrimack River between June 26 and July 1, 2026. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) issued an emergency closure due to the sewage spill in the impacted areas. For most areas impacted by this event the emergency closure was lifted on July 9, 2026, but the Merrimack River and the outer coastal areas receiving flow directly from the Merrimack River reopened on July 22, 2026. Governor Healey announced $300,000 in financial assistance to support shellfish harvesters affected by the Haverhill wastewater discharge and the resulting shellfish closures.

Potentially eligible participants received an application in the mail, mailed to the address on file for their Massachusetts commercial fishing permit endorsed for shellfish. Applications had to be mailed back to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) by August 22, 2026.

Eligibility

To qualify for this relief program, you must meet all of the minimum requirements:

• Have held a Massachusetts 2025 commercial permit endorsed for shellfish.
• Hold a current (2026) Massachusetts commercial permit endorsed for shellfish as of June 25, 2026.
• Have sold more than $1,000 worth of shellfish (e.g., ~450 lbs softshell clams) harvested from a shellfish growing area impacted by the closure (N1-N14) in any calendar year from 2023-2025.
• Be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Application for relief funds

MA DMF mailed out applications on July 31, 2026, to all potential applicants meeting the eligibility requirements described above. The application included contact and qualification information unique to the permit holder. If the applicant disagreed with the determinations or values listed on their unique application, there was an appeals process on the application.

Applications were requested to be mailed or emailed ([e-mail].) back to MA DMF by August 22, 2026:
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
30 Emerson Ave.
Gloucester, MA 01930

Relief payments were mailed to approved applicants on September 12, 2026.

Please email [e-mail] with any questions about this relief program.

Payments

MA DMF will use annual landings and average prices for oysters, softshell clams, and razor clams harvested in the impacted areas (N1–N14) during 2023–2025 to calculate shellfish relief payments to eligible recipients. Using the required monthly catch reports submitted by each shellfish harvester, MA DMF calculated the estimated annual value of each harvester's shellfish landings for each of the three years and used the highest annual value as the basis for determining eligibility. Each qualified harvester was then assigned to a payment "bin" based on that highest annual value, as can be shown on their application. Relief funds will be distributed to qualified applicants according to their assigned bin. 

Relief payments were mailed to approved applicants on September 12, 2026.