Shellfish classification areas

The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) classifies areas for shellfish harvest. Permit holders should review classification information prior to harvesting shellfish.

For the most current classification and closure information, harvesters should contact your local town shellfish constable.

DMF updates shellfish closure hotline for North Shore biotoxin closures and Conditionally Restricted area rainfall closures at (978) 282-0308, select option 3.

Growing area classification maps are for informational purposes only and do not reflect the current open or closed status of an area. 

Shellfish classification

Growing area classifications are assigned based on the results of sanitary surveys. The classification determines whether or not shellfish in the area can be harvested for human consumption. In Massachusetts, there are five classifications: 

APPROVED: Open to shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption subject to local rules and regulations. Closed only during major coast-wide events (e.g., hurricane, oil spill, red tide event).

CONDITIONALLY APPROVED: Closed some of the time due to rainfall or seasonally poor water quality or other predictable events. When open, it is treated as an Approved area. 

RESTRICTED: Contains a limited degree of contamination at all times. When open, shellfish can be relayed to a less contaminated area or harvested for depuration.

CONDITIONALLY RESTRICTED: Contains a limited degree of contamination at all times. Subject to intermittent pollution events and may close due poor water quality from rainfall events or season. When open, only commercial harvesting of soft shell clams for depuration is allowed.

PROHIBITED: Closed to the harvest of shellfish under all conditions, except the gathering of seeds for municipal propagation programs under a DMF permit.

Buzzards Bay

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
BB1Westport South Coastal BB1 - Westport South Coastal
BB2Richmond Pond BB2 - Richmond Pond
BB3West Branch Westport River BB3 - West Branch Westport River 
BB4East Branch Westport River BB4 - East Branch Westport River 
BB5Little Beach Coastal BB5 - Little Beach Coastal
BB6Allens Pond BB6 - Allens Pond 
BB7Dartmouth Center Coastal BB7 - Dartmouth Center Coastal 
BB8Slocums River BB8 - Slocums River 
BB9Little River BB9 - Little River 
BB10Smith Neck South Coastal BB10 - Smith Neck South Coastal 
BB11Dartmouth East Coastal BB11 - Dartmouth East Coastal 
BB12Apponagansett Bay BB12 - Apponagansett Bay 
BB13Clark Cove BB13 - Clark Cove 
BB14New Bedford East Coastal BB14 - New Bedford East Coastal 
BB15New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor BB15 - New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor 
BB16Fairhaven South Coastal BB16 - Fairhaven South Coastal 
BB17West Island South BB17 - West Island South 
BB18West Island North BB18 - West Island North 
BB19West Island East Coastal BB19 - West Island East Coastal 
BB20Fairhaven East Coastal BB20 - Fairhaven East Coastal 
BB21Nasketucket Bay BB21 - Nasketucket Bay 
BB22Little Bay BB22 - Little Bay 
BB23Brandt Island Cove BB23 - Brandt Island Cove 
BB24Mattapoisett South Coastal BB24 - Mattapoisett South Coastal 
BB25Mattapoisett Harbor BB25 - Mattapoisett Harbor 
BB26Mattapoisett River BB26 - Mattapoisett River 
BB27Eel Pond BB27 - Eel Pond 
BB28North Buzzards Bay BB28 - North Buzzards Bay 
BB29Point Connett BB29 - Point Connett 
BB30Hiller Cove BB30 - Hiller Cove 
BB31Aucoot Cove BB31 - Aucoot Cove 
BB32Sippican Harbor BB32 - Sippican Harbor 
BB33Stony Point Dike BB33 - Stony Point Dike 
BB34Wings Cove BB34 - Wings Cove 
BB35Weweantic River BB35 - Weweantic River 
BB36Wareham River BB36 - Wareham River 
BB37Little Harbor/Bourne Cove BB37 - Little Harbor/Bourne Cove 
BB38Wings Neck North BB38 - Wings Neck North 
BB39Widow Cove BB39 - Widow Cove 
BB40Onset Bay BB40 - Onset Bay 
BB41Sunset Cove BB41 - Sunset Cove 
BB42East River System BB42 - East River System 
BB43Fisherman Cove BB43 - Fisherman Cove 
BB44Buttermilk Bay BB44 - Buttermilk Bay 
BB45Cape Cod Canal BB45 - Cape Cod Canal 
BB46Phinneys Harbor BB46 - Phinneys Harbor 
BB47Back River/Eel Pond BB47 - Back River/Eel Pond 
BB48Pocasset River BB48 - Pocasset River 
BB49Pocasset And Red Brook Harbors BB49 - Pocasset And Red Brook Harbors 
BB50Megansett Harbor BB50 - Megansett Harbor 
BB51North Falmouth Outer Harbor BB51 - North Falmouth Outer Harbor 
BB52Wild Harbor/Wild Harbor River BB52 - Wild Harbor/Wild Harbor River 
BB53Herring Brook BB53 - Herring Brook 
BB54West Falmouth Harbor BB54 - West Falmouth Harbor 
BB55Falmouth West Coastal BB55 - Falmouth West Coastal 
BB56Great Sippiwisset Marsh BB56 - Great Sippiwisset Marsh 
BB57Little Sippiwisset Marsh BB57 - Little Sippiwisset Marsh 
BB58Quissett Harbor BB58 - Quissett Harbor 

Cape Cod Bay

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
CCB1 Herring Cove/Long Point CCB1 - Herring Cove/Long Point 
CCB2 Hatches Harbor CCB2 - Hatches Harbor 
CCB3 Provincetown Outer Harbor CCB3 - Provincetown Outer Harbor 
CCB4 Provincetown Inner Harbor CCB4 - Provincetown Inner Harbor 
CCB5 The Breakwater CCB5 - The Breakwater 
CCB6 Truro West Coastal CCB6 - Truro West Coastal 
CCB7 Pamet River CCB7 - Pamet River 
CCB8 Wellfleet West Coastal CCB8 - Wellfleet West Coastal 
CCB9 Eastham West Coastal CCB9 - Eastham West Coastal 
CCB10 Hatches Creek CCB10 - Hatches Creek 
CCB11 Wellfleet Harbor CCB11 - Wellfleet Harbor 
CCB12 Herring River CCB12 - Herring River 
CCB13 Wellfleet Inner Harbor CCB13 - Wellfleet Inner Harbor 
CCB14 Loagy Bay CCB14 - Loagy Bay 
CCB15 Herring River CCB15 - Herring River 
CCB16 Boat Meadow River CCB16 - Boat Meadow River 
CCB17 Orleans North Coastal CCB17 - Orleans North Coastal 
CCB18 Rock Harbor CCB18 - Rock Harbor 
CCB19 Little Namskaket Creek CCB19 - Little Namskaket Creek 
CCB20 Brewster North Coastal CCB20 - Brewster North Coastal 
CCB21 Namskaket Creek CCB21 - Namskaket Creek 
CCB22 Stony Brook CCB22 - Stony Brook 
CCB23 Dennis North Coastal CCB23 - Dennis North Coastal 
CCB24 Quivett Creek CCB24 - Quivett Creek 
CCB25 Sesuit Harbor CCB25 - Sesuit Harbor 
CCB26 Yarmouth North Coastal CCB26 - Yarmouth North Coastal 
CCB27 Chase Garden Creek CCB27 - Chase Garden Creek 
CCB28 Bass Creek & Lone Tree Creek CCB28 - Bass Creek 
CCB29 Mill Creek & Short Wharf Creek CCB29 - Mill Creek 
CCB30 Barnstable North Coastal CCB30 - Barnstable North Coastal 
CCB31 Barnstable Harbor CCB31 - Barnstable Harbor 
CCB32 Barnstable Inner Harbor CCB32 - Barnstable Inner Harbor 
CCB33 Barnstable Marshes CCB33 - Barnstable Marshes 
CCB34 Scorton Creek CCB34 - Scorton Creek 
CCB35 Sandwich North Coastal CCB35 - Sandwich North Coastal 
CCB36 Scorton Harbor CCB36 - Scorton Harbor 
CCB37 Sandwich Harbor CCB37 - Sandwich Harbor 
CCB38 Bourne North Coastal CCB38 - Bourne North Coastal 
CCB39 Plymouth South Coastal CCB39 - Plymouth South Coastal 
CCB40 Ellisville Harbor CCB40 - Ellisville Harbor 
CCB41 Plymouth North Coastal CCB41 - Plymouth North Coastal 
CCB42 Plymouth Harbor CCB42 - Plymouth Harbor 
CCB43 Kingston Bay CCB43 - Kingston Bay 
CCB44 Jones River CCB44 - Jones River 
CCB45 Duxbury Bay CCB45 - Duxbury Bay 
CCB46 Bluefish River CCB46 - Bluefish River 
CCB47 Back River CCB47 - Back River 
CCB48 Cape Cod Bay CCB48 - Cape Cod Bay 

Elizabethan Islands

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
E1Naushon Island West CoastalE1 - Naushon Island West Coastal 
E2Hadleys HarborE2 - Hadleys Harbor 
E3Northwest GutterE3 - Northwest Gutter 
E4Gosnold West CoastalE4 - Gosnold West Coastal 
E5Robinsons HoleE5 - Robinsons Hole 
E6Quicks HoleE6 - Quicks Hole 
E7Quicks Hole PondE7 - Quicks Hole Pond 
E8Cuttyhunk HarborE8 - Cuttyhunk Harbor 
E9Cuttyhunk PondE9 - Cuttyhunk Pond 
E10Westend PondE10 - Westend Pond 
E11Gosnold East CoastalE11 - Gosnold East Coastal 
E12Naushon East CoastalE12 - Naushon East Coastal 
E13Tarpaulin CoveE13 - Tarpaulin Cove 
E14Lackeys BayE14 - Lackeys Bay 

Greater Boston Harbor

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
GBH1 Outer Hull BayGBH1 - Outer Hull Bay
GBH2 Quincy Bay GBH2 - Quincy Bay 
GBH3 Neponset River & Dorchester Bay GBH3 - Neponset River 
GBH4 Boston Inner Harbor GBH4 - Boston Inner Harbor 
GBH5 North Boston Harbor GBH5 - North Boston Harbor 
GBH6 Boston Outer Harbor GBH6 - Boston Outer Harbor 
GBH7Weir River and Hingham HarborGBH7 - Weir River and Hingham Harbor
GBH8Weymouth Back RiverGBH8 - Weymouth Back River
GBH9Weymouth Fore RiverGBH9 - Weymouth Fore River
CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
MB1 Duxbury Beach MB1 - Duxbury Beach 
MB2 Marshfield East Coastal MB2 - Marshfield East Coastal 
MB3 Green Harbor MB3 - Green Harbor 
MB4 Scituate South Coastal MB4 - Scituate South Coastal 
MB5 North River MB5 - North River 
MB6 South River MB6 - South River 
MB7 Scituate Harbor MB7 - Scituate Harbor 
MB8 Scituate North Coastal MB8 - Scituate North Coastal 
MB9 Cohasset North Coastal MB9 - Cohasset North Coastal 
MB10 Cohasset Harbor MB10 - Cohasset Harbor 
MB11 Little Harbor MB11 - Little Harbor 
MB12 Nantasket Beach MB12 - Nantasket Beach 
MB13 Outer Boston Harbor Islands MB13 - Outer Boston Harbor Islands 
MB14 Massachusetts Bay MB14 - Massachusetts Bay 

Mount Hope Bay

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF
MHB1 Mount Hope Bay MHB1 - Mount Hope Bay 
MHB2 Taunton River MHB2 - Taunton River 
MHB3 Lee River MHB3 - Lee River 
MHB4 Cole River MHB4 - Cole River 
MHB5 Palmer River MHB5 - Palmer River 

North Shore

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
N1 Salisbury Beach N1 - Salisbury Beach 
N2 Merrimack River N2 - Merrimack River 
N3 Plum Island N3 - Plum Island 
N4 Plum Island Sound N4 - Plum Island Sound 
N5 Ipswich River N5 - Ipswich River 
N6 Cranes Beach N6 - Cranes Beach 
N7 Essex Bay N7 - Essex Bay 
N8 Coffins Beach N8 - Coffins Beach 
N9 Annisquam River Gloucester Harbor N9 - Annisquam River Gloucester Harbor 
N10 Outer North Gloucester N10 - Outer North Gloucester 
N11 Rockport N11 - Rockport 
N12 Good Harbor Beach N12 - Good Harbor Beach 
N13 Eastern Point N13 - Eastern Point 
N14 Magnolia N14 - Magnolia 
N15 Manchester N15 - Manchester 
N16 Beverly N16 - Beverly 
N17 Danvers River N17 - Danvers River 
N18 Salem Harbor N18 - Salem Harbor 
N19 Folger/Peaches Point N19 - Folger/Peaches Point 
N20 Marblehead Harbor N20 - Marblehead Harbor 
N21 Marblehead N21 - Marblehead 
N22 Swampscott N22 - Swampscott 
N23 Lynn N23 - Lynn 
N24 Nahant Bay N24 - Nahant Bay 
N25 Nahant Harbor N25 - Nahant Harbor 
N26 Lynn Hbr and Saugus/Pines Rivers N26 - Lynn Hbr and Saugus/Pines Rivers 
N27 Winthrop Beach N27 - Winthrop Beach 
N28 Deer Island N28 - Deer Island 

Nantucket Sound

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
NS1 Nantucket Sound NS1 - Nantucket Sound

Nantucket

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
NT1 Nantucket Northeast Coastal NT1 - Nantucket Northeast Coastal 
NT2 Nantucket Harbor West NT2 - Nantucket Harbor West 
NT3 Nantucket Harbor East NT3 - Nantucket Harbor East 
NT4 Polpis Harbor NT4 - Polpis Harbor 
NT5 Head Of The Harbor NT5 - Head Of The Harbor 
NT6 Coskata Pond NT6 - Coskata Pond 
NT7 Nantucket East Coastal NT7 - Nantucket East Coastal 
NT9 Sesachacha Pond NT9 - Sesachacha Pond 
NT11 Madaket Harbor NT11 - Madaket Harbor 
NT13 Tuckernuck Island NT13 - Tuckernuck Island 

Outer Cape Cod

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
OC1 Nauset Beach South Coastal OC1 - Nauset Beach South Coastal 
OC2 Nauset Harbor OC2 - Nauset Harbor 
OC3 Mill Pond OC3 - Mill Pond 
OC4 Town Cove OC4 - Town Cove 
OC5 Nauset Marsh OC5 - Nauset Marsh 
OC6 Salt Pond OC6 - Salt Pond 
OC9 Truro East Coastal OC9 - Truro East Coastal 
OC10 Provincetown North Coastal OC10 - Provincetown North Coastal 

South Cape Cod

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
SC1 Woods Hole West Coastal SC1 - Woods Hole West Coastal 
SC2 Great Harbor SC2 - Great Harbor 
SC3 Woods Hole Outer Harbor SC3 - Woods Hole Outer Harbor 
SC4 Little Harbor SC4 - Little Harbor 
SC5 South Falmouth Coastal SC5 - South Falmouth Coastal 
SC6 Oyster Pond SC6 - Oyster Pond 
SC7 Salt Pond SC7 - Salt Pond 
SC8 East Falmouth Coastal SC8 - East Falmouth Coastal 
SC9 Falmouth Inner Harbor SC9 - Falmouth Inner Harbor 
SC10 Little Pond SC10 - Little Pond 
SC11 Great Pond SC11 - Great Pond 
SC12 Green Pond SC12 - Green Pond 
SC13 Bournes Pond SC13 - Bournes Pond 
SC14 Eel Pond SC14 - Eel Pond 
SC15 Waquoit Bay SC15 - Waquoit Bay 
SC16 Little and Great Rivers Complex SC16 - Little and Great Rivers Complex 
SC17 Mashpee South Coastal SC17 - Mashpee South Coastal 
SC18 Barnstable South Coastal SC18 - Barnstable South Coastal 
SC19 Popponesset Bay SC19 - Popponesset Bay 
SC20 Mashpee River and Shoestring Bay SC20 - Mashpee River and Shoestring Bay 
SC21 Cotuit Bay SC21 - Cotuit Bay 
SC22 West Bay SC22 - West Bay 
SC23 North Bay SC23 - North Bay 
SC24 East Bay and Centerville River SC24 - East Bay and Centerville River 
SC25 Bumps River SC25 - Bumps River 
SC26 Squaw Island SC26 - Squaw Island 
SC27 Hyannis Harbor SC27 - Hyannis Harbor 
SC28 Lewis Bay SC28 - Lewis Bay 
SC29 Yarmouth South Coastal SC29 - Yarmouth South Coastal 
SC30 Parkers River & Seine Pond SC30 - Parkers River 
SC31 Lewis Pond SC31 - Lewis Pond 
SC32 Dennis South Coastal SC32 - Dennis South Coastal 
SC33 Bass River South SC33 - Bass River South 
SC34 Bass River Center SC34 - Bass River Center 
SC35 Bass River North SC35 - Bass River North 
SC36 Swan Pond SC36 - Swan Pond 
SC37 Harwich South Coastal SC37 - Harwich South Coastal 
SC38 Herring River SC38 - Herring River 
SC39 Allens Harbor SC39 - Allens Harbor 
SC40 Wychmere Harbor SC40 - Wychmere Harbor 
SC41 Saquatucket Harbor SC41 - Saquatucket Harbor 
SC42 Chatham South Coastal SC42 - Chatham South Coastal 
SC43 Red River SC43 - Red River 
SC44 Mill Creek SC44 - Mill Creek 
SC45 Taylors Pond SC45 - Taylors Pond 
SC46 Bucks & Cockle Cove Creek SC46 - Bucks 
SC47 Monomoy Island SC47 - Monomoy Island 
SC48 Stage Harbor SC48 - Stage Harbor 
SC49 Oyster Pond River SC49 - Oyster Pond River 
SC50 Oyster Pond SC50 - Oyster Pond 
SC51 Mitchell River and Mill Ponds SC51 - Mitchell River and Mill Ponds 
SC52 Chatham HarborSC52 - Chatham Harbor
SC53 Pleasant Bay SC53 - Pleasant Bay 
SC54 Bassing Harbor SC54 - Bassing Harbor 
SC55 Crows Pond SC55 - Crows Pond 
SC56 Ryders Cove SC56 - Ryders Cove 
SC57 Frostfish Cove SC57 - Frostfish Cove 
SC58 Muddy Creek SC58 - Muddy Creek 
SC59 Round Cove SC59 - Round Cove 
SC60 Quanset Pond SC60 - Quanset Pond 
SC61 Little Pleasant Bay SC61 - Little Pleasant Bay 
SC62 Pochet Creek SC62 - Pochet Creek 
SC63 Namequoit River SC63 - Namequoit River 
SC64 Paw Wah Pond SC64 - Paw Wah Pond 

Martha's Vineyard

CodeGrowing Area NamePDF 
V1 Menemsha Bight V1 - Menemsha Bight 
V2 Menemsha Inlet and Pond V2 - Menemsha Inlet and Pond 
V3 Nashaquitsa and Stonewall Pond V3 - Nashaquitsa and Stonewall Pond 
V4 Chilmark North Coastal V4 - Chilmark North Coastal 
V5 West Tisbury North Coastal V5 - West Tisbury North Coastal 
V6 James Pond V6 - James Pond 
V7 Tisbury North Coastal V7 - Tisbury North Coastal 
V8 Lake Tashmoo V8 - Lake Tashmoo 
V9 Oak Bluffs North Coastal V9 - Oak Bluffs North Coastal 
V10 Vineyard Haven Harbor V10 - Vineyard Haven Harbor 
V11 Lagoon Pond V11 - Lagoon Pond 
V12 Edgartown North Coastal V12 - Edgartown North Coastal 
V13 Edgartown Outer Harbor V13 - Edgartown Outer Harbor 
V14 Oak Bluffs Harbor V14 - Oak Bluffs Harbor 
V15 Farm Pond V15 - Hamlin Pond and Farm Pond 
V16 Sengekontacket Pond V16 - Sengekontacket Pond 
V17 Eel Pond V17 - Eel Pond 
V18 Chappaquiddick Beach V18 - Chappaquiddick Beach 
V19 Edgartown Inner Harbor V19 - Edgartown Inner Harbor 
V20 Katama Bay V20 - Katama Bay 
V21 Cape Poge Bay V21 - Cape Poge Bay 
V22 Pocha Pond V22 - Pocha Pond 
V23 Edgartown East Coastal V23 - Edgartown East Coastal 
V24 Edgartown South Coastal V24 - Edgartown South Coastal 
V25 Crackatuxet Cove V25 - Crackatuxet Cove 
V26 Edgartown Great Pond V26 - Edgartown Great Pond 
V27 Jobs Neck Pond V27 - Jobs Neck Pond 
V28 Paqua Pond V28 - Paqua Pond 
V29 Oyster Pond V29 - Oyster Pond 
V30 Martha's Vineyard South Coastal V30 - Martha's Vineyard South Coastal 
V31 Tisbury Great Pond V31 - Tisbury Great Pond 
V32 Chilmark Pond V32 - Chilmark Pond 
V33 Gay Head South Coastal V33 - Gay Head South Coastal 
V34 Nomans Land V34 - Nomans Land 
V35 Squibnocket Pond V35 - Squibnocket Pond 
V36 Harthaven HarborV36 - Harthaven Harbor 

Contact   for Shellfish classification areas

Online

DMF Staff Directory Contact DMF staff 

Fax

(508) 990-0449

Address

836 S Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02744

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