Federal aid sought for shellfishing industry after red tide closures

(Bill Greene/Globe Staff)

Clam beds were closed in May at the Ipswich Salt Marsh due to an outbreak of red tide.

By Globe Staff

Citing shellfishing area closures this year due to red tide, Governor Deval Patrick has asked the federal government to declare a commercial fishery failure, an action that would make the industry eligible for disaster assistance funds.

Aid is needed to "help sustain shellfish fishing and prevent a local collapse of the industry," Patrick said in a letter to US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez.

He estimated that the closures had caused hardship for about 1,100 commercial shellfishermen, and 35 fish farmers in 11 coastal communities.

More than 600,000 acres of shellfishing areas on the North and South Shores, Cape Cod, and Boston Harbor -- as well as offshore clam beds -- were closed at various times between April and July due to red tide, the governor's office said. Patrick estimated the losses to shellfishermen would exceed $1.525 million.

If the declaration were approved, Congress could appropriate funds for the fishermen, the governor's office said.

Two spokeswomen for the US Department of Commerce didn't immediately return an email seeking comment.

A red tide is a bloom of certain marine algae. At high enough levels, toxins produced by the algae can make shellfish living in the waters unsafe to eat. Species that shellfishermen were banned from harvesting earlier this year included soft-shelled clams, quahogs, surf clams, razor clams, oysters, whole sea scallops, and blue mussels. The majority of restrictions have now been lifted.

• Comment
• Permalink
• Email