Wayne Castonguay, Regional Shellfish Program Leader at the Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries Microbiology Laboratory in Gloucester. Photo: James Rojas/ WBZ NewsRadio
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — For the first time in a century, large parts of Boston Harbor are being re-opened to harvesting and consuming shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels).
Shellfishing was banned from this area back in 1925 due to a typhoid epidemic from polluted oysters.
But now, after years of environmental stewardship, clean-up efforts are paying off as Winthrop, Hull, and Hingham waters have been reclassified for shellfishing.
Water quality has improved enough to meet the standards for what's called 'Conditionally Approved.'
These three towns still need to sign off on the specifics of how the reopenings will be managed and staffed.
But the reopening is considered a huge achievement for recreational shellfishing while reducing the need for a costly purification process that commercial harvesters have needed.
Wayne Castonguay, Regional Shellfish Program Leader for the Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries, said "There has been some limited shellfishing, but it's only with specially licensed shellfishermen. Now, this will be opening to the whole public and will allow for the first time in a century the direct consumption of these shellfish."
Officials believe these parts of the harbor will be open to the public for recreational shellfishing towards the end of this year.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.