Recreational Shellfishing Crier
Town Recreational Shellfish Crier
May 1, 2024
1. On Wednesday, May 1, the Area by the Breakwater on Indian Neck Will Close to Shellfishing
As part of the contaminated quahog relay, starting Wednesday, May 1, the Shellfish Department will place hundreds of bushels of mixed quahogs (littlenecks, cherrystones, chowders, etc.) in Indian Neck recreational-only area by the jetty. The area is bordered by the jetty on the right, and on the left, by a line from the candy-striped pole on the beach near the grasses out to the green channel marker. Here is a map. You may not harvest any shellfish from this area until further notice.
We get the quahogs from the Taunton River through a tightly monitored state-run program that allows towns to move quahogs that are lightly contaminated to our waters for natural purification. The state makes us close the area to allow the quahogs to spawn during the summer, increasing the potential for baby quahogs to settle and grow there in the future. The quahogs are stringently tested before they can be harvested and eaten by the public. Click here for quick facts and here for more detailed information about this important program for our propagation and your harvesting efforts.
As a point of clarification: Our waters are not contaminated; the clams come from lightly contaminated waters and are able to purge themselves completely. This does not affect the surrounding water; in fact, clams are filter feeders and purify the water as they feed. Quahog samples will be sent to the Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries for testing before we open the area to shellfishing. This program helps us create well-stocked clam beds and sustainable clam populations into the future.
2. Chipman’s Cove is Closed Until October 27, 2024.
As it does each year, at sunset on April 30, 2024, Chipman’s Cove closed for the season to the harvest of shellfish. The Shellfish Department will also propagate the Cove with clams from the contaminated quahog relay.
3. Shellfishing Parking Stickers
For non-residents and residents who cannot or do not purchase Wellfleet beach stickers, there is a required parking sticker for recreational shellfishing permit holders that allows them to park at the Indian Neck parking lot and along the left side of Nauset Rd. from two hours before low tide until two hours after low tide on Sundays and Wednesdays. These stickers are free and will be available once the Beach Dept. moves into our office at the pier on June 1, 2024, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Please stop by with your 2024 recreational shellfishing permit to request your free parking sticker. Parking stickers are not required until June 22, 2024, and will be needed from then through Labor Day, 2024. 4. Thank you for always reporting your catches to shellfish@wellfleet-ma.gov!
These numbers are essential for our department to keep our finger on the pulse of our beloved wild shellfishing, enabling us to enhance our propagation efforts to keep our tidal flats well stocked and proliferating. Hard data helps us quantify the year-round value of our shellfishery. This informs our propagation efforts, which in turn means better wild picking for everyone!
Contact Nancy at nancy.civetta@wellfleet-ma.gov or 508-349-0325 with ideas on how the Shellfish Department can help or improve shellfishing. Thank you!
Nancy Civetta John Mankevetch Chris Manulla & Sarah Comstock
Shellfish Constable Assistant Shellfish Constable Deputy Shellfish Constables
