September 3, 2009
On August 31, the PSP harvesting closures in western Maine were reduced to a smaller area, and, in the area from Small Point to the New Hampshire border, to a fewer number of species. Last week in eastern Maine, exception areas were opened in Pigeon Hill Bay to harvest of mussels and carnivorous snails and in the vicinity of Chandler River to harvest of mussels. Much of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish due to PSP toxins.
In Massachusetts, much of the north coast remains under harvesting closures for one or more species.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters remain closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
August 24, 2009
In Maine, the exception area for harvest of ocean quahogs was expanded on August 19. However, much of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish (both bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails) due to PSP toxins.
In Massachusetts, portions of the north shore were opened for harvesting of some species on August 22. However, much of the north coast remains under harvesting closures for one or more species.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters remain closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
August 18, 2009
In Maine, more exception areas were opened for harvest in the past week, including one in eastern Maine for ocean quahogs. However, much of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish (both bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails) due to PSP toxins.
August 10, 2009
Much of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish (both bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails) due to PSP toxins. However, in most parts of the state, some larger exception areas have been opened for clamming. Some exception areas have also been opened for mussel harvest.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters are closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
August 3, 2009
Most of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish (both bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails) due to PSP toxins. Some exception areas were opened for harvest in the past week.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters are closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
July 24, 2009
Most of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish (both bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails) due to PSP toxins. Some small exception areas were opened for harvest of soft-shell clams this week.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters are closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
WHOI researchers have completed surveys of Alexandrium abundance in the Gulf of Maine. The sampling was supported with emergency response funding from NOS and CSCOR HAB Event Response. It covered an area from Cape Ann, MA, north to Prospect Harbor, ME, and included high resolution nearshore sampling in eastern Maine where Maine DMR had observed some of the highest toxicity in shellfish in recent weeks. Researchers found Alexandrium abundance was low overall.
For detailed cruise observations and maps of Alexandrium abundance, visit WHOI’s Northeast PSP Cruise Observation Page.
July 21, 2009
Most of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish due to PSP toxins. Some very small exception areas were opened last week.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
In New Hampshire, Atlantic waters are closed to shellfish harvesting due to PSP toxins.
WHOI researchers observed low Alexandrium abundance in western Maine waters during NOS- and CSCOR HAB Event Response-supported surveys conducted July 19-20.
July 15, 2009
Most of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish due to PSP toxins.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
On July 10, researchers conducting an ECOHAB GOMTOX mooring recovery and redeployment effort, spotted visible patches of Alexandrium off Portsmouth, NH (blooms of this species are rarely concentrated enough to be visible). Researchers from WHOI quickly took action, with partial support from CSCOR’s HAB Event Response Program, to survey the waters off Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Initial results indicate levels of Alexandrium were low to not present in Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bays. However, high Alexandrium abundance was detected offshore of Cape Ann, MA, and was likely connected to the extreme bloom conditions observed to the north. For detailed cruise observations and maps of Alexandrium abundance, visit WHOI’s Northeast PSP Cruise Observation Page.
July 14, 2009
Most of coastal Maine remains closed to harvesting of shellfish due to PSP toxins. Only a few very small areas are not affected.
In Massachusetts, harvesting closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged and include one or more species for most of the north coast.
On July 10, researchers conducting an ECOHAB GOMTOX mooring recovery and redeployment effort, spotted visible patches of Alexandrium off Portsmouth, NH (blooms of this species are rarely concentrated enough to be visible). Researchers from WHOI quickly took action, with partial support from CSCOR’s HAB Event Response Program, to survey the waters off Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Initial results indicate levels of Alexandrium were low to not present in Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bays. However, high Alexandrium abundance was detected offshore of Cape Ann, MA, and was likely connected to the extreme bloom conditions observed to the north.
July 10, 2009
Maine has again expanded closure areas for harvesting of clams due to elevated PSP levels from an unprecedented red tide season. As of today, July 10, approximately 95% of Maine waters are currently closed for either red tide or flood closures. Only a handful of very small areas have not been affected yet. Details on Maine shellfish closures are posted here
In New Hampshire, all areas of Atlantic waters are again closed to harvesting; this latest change was due to rainfall last week.
In Massachusetts, closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged.
July 8, 2009
In western Maine, the state expanded the closure area for harvesting of clams due to elevated PSP levels on July 8. There are a few exception areas in the uppermost portions of Casco Bay and in some of the major rivers where the existing mussel bed exceptions are located.
In eastern Maine, the state expanded harvesting closures again due to PSP levels. The changes included closing an exception area near the Chandler River and enlarging the closure area around Mount Desert Island. An exception area for the harvest of soft-shell clams was created on Swans Island.
In New Hampshire, all areas of Atlantic waters are again closed to harvesting; this latest change was due to rainfall last week.
In Massachusetts, closures due to PSP toxins remain unchanged.
July 1, 2009
In eastern Maine, the state closed shellfish harvesting areas from Cow Point to the Canadian border on June 26. The closures were then expanded on June 30 to include most of eastern Maine and all species. Also on June 30, Maine completely closed the mahogany clam (ocean quahog) beds.
In Western Maine, the PSP harvesting closure was expanded to Spruce Head on June 18, 2009. Some exception areas were still opened to harvest of mussels, including some previously existing exception areas.
In Canada, shellfish harvesting beds in southwest New Brunswick have been closed.
In New Hampshire, harvesting closures were lifted for some species in Atlantic waters.
Massachusetts lifted the PSP closure for bivalve shellfish in all areas of the Nauset Estuary but Salt Pond on June 18. Then on June 25, the closure for bivalves was lifted for Salt Pond (all areas remain closed for the harvesting of moon snails).
On June 19, 2009, New York rescinded the PSP closures issued in late May/early June. All the normally certified areas of Huntington Bay, Coast Guard Cove, Lloyd Harbor, Northport Bay, Centerport Harbor and Duck Island Harbor were reopened.
June 16, 2009
On June 3, Massachusetts closed areas of the towns of Hull, Cohasset, and Scituate to the harvesting of bivalve shellfish and carnivorous snails due to PSP toxins.
On June 9, Maine opened an exception area for the harvest of mussels north of Cox Head in the Kennebec River.
June 1, 2009
On May 29, 2009, Massachusetts lifted the PSP harvesting closure for softshell and razor clams only in areas of Essex Bay and Annisquam River. The areas remain closed to harvesting of all other bivalve shellfish.
New Hampshire expanded the Atlantic harvesting closure to include nearshore waters (the previous closure was for offshore waters only). The state also closed Hampton/Seabrook to all shellfish harvesting.
On May 28, 2009, a PSP closure was issued in Eastern Maine for mussels, carnivorous snails, and European from Isle au Haut to Little Duck Island.
On May 27, 2009, New York implemented a PSP closure in the Northport Bay area (including Centerport and Duck Island Harbors).
On May 14, 2009, NOAA approved state plans for spending $5 million in federal disaster aid intended to assist shellfish industries in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire affected by a 2008 Alexandrium bloom event. Maine and Massachusetts will each receive $2 million and New Hampshire $1 million to support industry-driven efforts to better address future harmful algal bloom outbreaks.
May 26, 2009
On May 22, 2009, Massachusetts issued a harvesting closure from the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border south into Massachusetts Bay due to PSP toxins.
Also on May 22, Maine reduced the size of the clam closure area in western Maine by opening some of the farthest inland areas for harvest of clams only.
May 12, 2009
On May 6, 2009, Massachusetts expanded the PSP shellfish closure in the Nauset system to include all areas in the system.April 22, 2009
On April 17, 2009 some areas in the Nauset estuary were closed to the harvesting of blue mussels due to the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins. Blooms in this area are thought to be isolated events that are not directly linked to blooms in the Gulf of Maine.
April 27, 2009
On April 24, 2009, the State of Massachusetts extended the closure in the Nauset Marsh to include all shellfish. Blooms in this area are thought to be isolated events that are not directly linked to blooms in the Gulf of Maine.
On April 27, 2009, the State of Maine closed harvesting of mussels, European oysters, and carnivorous snails, in a portion of Casco Bay between Flying Pt (Freeport) and Small Pt (Phippsburg). This is an area that typically closes early and this closure is only two days earlier than last year.
