"For the first time in a century and after a multi-billion-dollar, decades-long clean-up, parts of the once toxic Boston Harbor waters meet water quality standards that will allow for direct harvest and human consumption of shellfish. The announcement came from the state's Division of Marine Fisheries at the start of the year. DMF said that water quality has improved significantly enough that both commercial and recreational shellfishers will be allowed to harvest shellfish for personal use or direct sale to consumers."
"These areas have been closed off to wider shellfishing since 1925, the year contaminated oysters caused a national typhoid epidemic and led to the closure of most of the Boston Harbor to shellfishing. Since then, only "specially trained and certified" commercial shellfishers could harvest shellfish in these areas and had to send the shellfish to a depuration plant, according to the release."
"Though DMF declared these parts of the harbor safe, it doesn't mean people can harvest shellfish just yet. Officials in Winthrop, Hull, and Hingham - which have "no history of managing shellfisheries," DMF said - must now devise rules and regulations before wider shellfish harvesting is allowed. DMF is already in communication with town officials to help with these processes."
The state's Division of Marine Fisheries is reclassifying parts of outer Boston Harbor to allow direct harvest and human consumption of shellfish. Water quality has improved enough to permit both commercial and recreational harvest for personal use or direct sale. Affected areas include parts of Winthrop, Hull, and Hingham. Those areas were closed to wider shellfishing since 1925 after contaminated oysters caused a national typhoid epidemic and widespread harbor closures. Since then, only specially trained commercial shellfishers could harvest and required depuration. Town officials must adopt rules before reopening, with openings expected in 2026.
Read at Boston.com
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