A community must have a permit from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to possess undersized soft shell clams (Mya arenaria). This permit will allow the municipality to possess sub legal clams for the purpose of reseeding shellfish areas. Without such a permit, the diggers may be in violation of state law.

In order to obtain a permit you must do the following:

1. Read and be prepared to follow the procedures listed below.

2. Fill out and send a completed form, at least a week prior to the requested date.

3. Retain a copy for your files (some information is required on the Annual Management Review).

 

NOTE: Do not list multiple events on this form, each event must be applied for separately.

 A letter of approval from the DMR will be mailed to your Town Clerk, this will serve as your permit.

 

Procedures

The following guidelines should be followed while transplanting clams from all sources:

1) The activity will take place during daylight hours.

2) The activity will take place on designated days.

3) The activity should take place under the supervision of the town's shellfish officer or a designee of the Shellfish Committee.

The following guidelines must be followed when taking seed clams from a Closed or Restricted area.

1) All clams harvested must be less than 1.5" in the longest diameter. This is a no tolerance policy.

2) The harvest area must be marked by orange flags.

3) There must be a designated landing point for product that is included in the application.

4) During harvesting activities, harvest crew diggers shall remain in the same area, close enough for immediate supervision of all diggers at all times by the representative of the shellfish committee. The period of harvesting activity will be considered the time from which the names of the diggers are taken by the representative of the shellfish committee until the clams are landed at the designated landing point.

5) The method and route of the transportation of product to the receiving area must be submitted to DMR at the time of application.

  NOTE: Areas seeded with clams taken from Depuration or Prohibited (Closed) areas must be closed for a period of at least 6 months.

On the Day of the Reseeding:

1. Marine Patrol in either W. Boothbay Harbor at Division I (207-633- 9595) or Lamoine at Division II (207-667-3373) must be notified on the morning of the activity, or if the activity is initiated prior to the start of the normal business day or occurring on a weekend, the previous business day, of the following:

A) The name of the supervisor B) The area of the activity C) The number of people involved

 2. The supervisor of the activity will have in his possession a copy of the permit from the Department for the activity and a list of names of people involved.

 Questions and comments should be addressed to the following:

 

York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties Donald Card Tel/Fax: 207-443-5147 72 Indian Carry Rd. Bath, ME 04530 Lincoln, Knox and Waldo Counties Ron Aho Tel/Fax: 207-586-5572 118 Kings Highway Newcastle, ME 04553 Hancock County Hannah Annis Tel/Fax: 207-469-6134 22 Charlie Starr Lane Orland, Me. 04472 Washington County Denis Nault Tel/Fax: 207-422-2092 60 Harborview Drive Sullivan, ME 04664