Maine Red Tide and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline
1-800-232-4733 or 207-633-9571
"This message was last updated on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. Thank you for calling the Department of Marine Resources Red Tide and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline
The hotline is provided as a courtesy to inform harvesters of the status of the shellfish harvesting areas. Due to the unpredictable nature of events that cause these closures and the fact that they may occur during non-business hours, this list may not always reflect recent closures and is not intended to be legally binding.
The hotline is updated only if there is a change of status.
The DMR announces the following changes:
There is a PSP closure for mussels, European oysters, and carnivorous snails from the ME/NH border to Pemaquid Pt, Bristol; AND there is a PSP closure for all species of clams from the ME/NH border to McKenney Pt, Cape Elizabeth. There is one exception area: soft-shell clams may be harvested in the Scarborough River.
The following four rainfall/wastewater treatment plant conditional areas remain closed:
No. 20 Atkins Bay (Phippsburg)
No. 26 Medomak River (Waldoboro, Friendship)
No. 27 St. Georges River (Thomaston)
No. 40 Union River and Patten Bay, (Ellsworth, Surry, Trenton)
All pre-existing pollution and Red tide/ PSP closures remain in effect.
Automatic – Main Menu
This system is provided to allow public access to current status for red tide closures, large-scale flood repeated closures, the status of conditionally approved harvest areas and information on swim beach monitoring.
If you have a touch-tone phone, and you know your selection, you may press it at anytime during this message.
There are many closures due to sewage pollution in effect along the entire Maine coast. If you need more details about these pollution closures, you should contact the Marine Patrol Division in the area in which you plan to harvest.
These are:
* Division I: Includes the area from the N.H. border to the western shore of the St. George River. Their number is 633-9595.
* Division II: Includes the area from the eastern shore of the St. George River to the Canadian Border. Their number is 667-3373.
If you are calling from a touchtone phone and want access to red tide closures, press 1 now. If you want information about the current status of a flood closure, press 2 now. If you want information on the status of conditionally approved harvest areas press 3 now. If you want information on swim beach monitoring, press 4 now. If you are calling from a rotary phone, stay on the line and you will hear all messages.
Red Tide Closures (50100)
If you know the selection you want, you may press it at anytime during this message. Red tide closures are organized by species. For the latest closure information press the appropriate number associated with the species. Only the shellfish mentioned below are affected by “red tide” and other marine biotoxins. Red tide and other toxin closures do not affect lobsters, shrimp, crabs, finfish or periwinkles.
For Soft Shell Clams, Oysters and Surf or Hen Clams, press 1 now; for Mussels and Carnivorous Snails, press 2 now; for Ocean Quahogs or Hard Clams, press 3 now; for Whelks, press 4 now.
To return to the main menu, press 0 now.
1 – Soft Shell Clams, Surf or Hen Clams, and Oysters (50101):
There is one closure for soft-shell clams and Surf / Hen clams; this closure begins at the ME/NH border and includes all of the shores, flats, and waters over to McKenney Pt, Cape Elizabeth. There is an exception area: soft-shell clams may be harvested in the Scarborough River.
There is one closure for European oysters; this closure begins at the ME/NH border and includes all of the shores, flats, and waters over to Pemaquid Pt, Bristol.
There are no closures for American oysters.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
2 – Mussels and Carnivorous Snails (50102):
There is one closure for mussels or carnivorous snails; this closure begins at the ME/NH border and includes all of the shores, flats, and waters over to Pemaquid Pt, Bristol.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
3 – Ocean Quahogs or Hard Clams (50103):
There are two closures for the harvest of ocean quahogs. The first closure extends from the Maine-New Hampshire border to Schoodic Pt in Winter Harbor, and seaward to the limits of U.S. jurisdiction.
The second closure extends from Schoodic Pt, Winter Harbor to the Canadian border, and seaward to the limits of U.S. jurisdiction. There is an exception from the south tip of Schoodic Point, Winter Harbor to the limits of US jurisdiction and west of a line beginning at Long Point, Cutler, running south to the limits of US jurisdiction.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
4 – Whelks (also known as conchles or conchs) (50104):
All Maine flats and waters located between the New Hampshire boundary and the Canadian boundary out to the jurisdiction of the United States are closed for the taking of whelks.
There is one EXCEPTION to this rule. The common Northern whelk (also known as the waved whelk) can be harvested in the waters of the State of Maine.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
Flood Closures (50106):
The flood closure has been reduced to the area between Small Point, Cape Small, Phippsburg to Bay Point, Georgetown.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
Conditional Areas:
There are several shellfish areas in the state of Maine which open and close depending on various conditions, which affect the pollution levels. A list of these areas is available from the Marine Patrol. To listen to the current status for conditional areas impacted by rainfall or sewage treatment plant malfunctions, press 1 now. To listen to a list of areas which open and close on a seasonal basis press 2 now.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
Rainfall and Sewage Treatment Plant Conditional Areas (50110):
The following list includes the conditional areas, which are currently closed for shellfish harvesting due to either rainfall or a malfunction at a local sewage treatment plant. This list was updated April 30, 2008 and is provided as a courtesy to inform harvesters of the status of the conditional areas. Due to the unpredictable nature of events, which cause these closures, and the fact that they may occur during non-business hours, this list may not always reflect recent closures and is not intended to be legally binding. Therefore, if you know you will be harvesting in a conditional area, you should check with your local Marine Patrol Officer, your local shellfish warden, or your local shellfish committee.
Conditional areas presently closed:
No. 20 Atkins Bay (Phippsburg)
No. 26 Medomak River (Waldoboro, Friendship)
No. 27 St. Georges River (Thomaston)
No. 40 Union River and Patten Bay, (Ellsworth, Surry, Trenton)
For details about the closure lines contact your local Marine Patrol Headquarters in your area.
To return to the main menu press 0 now.
Seasonal Conditional Areas (50111):
The following list includes all conditionally approved areas, which change status depending on the time of year and will open on the day specified as long as water quality meets approved standards and/or potential pollution sources are not present, such as boats in marina areas. If any of these areas do not meet criteria to open as scheduled, they will be listed in the opening message of this recording.
Closed area number 3, York Harbor; open 11/15 – 4/30
Closed area number 6, Ogunquit River; open 11/1 – 5/31
Closed area number 6, Webhannet River, open 1/1 – 4/30;
Closed area number 8, Paddy Creek, Cape Porpoise; open 10/1 – 5/31.
Closed area number 9, Goosefare Bay & Little River (Kennebunkport); open 10/1 – 5/31.
Closed area number 10, Hills Beach and north half of Biddeford Pool; open 10/1 – 5/31.
Closed area number 12, Spurwink River area; open 12/1 – 5/31
Closed area number 13-A, Falmouth Foreside; open 11/15 – 4/30
Closed area number 15, Harraseeket River marina area; open 12/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 16, Upper Maquoit Bay; open 4/1 - 8/31
Closed area number 16, Paul’s Marina at Merepoint Neck; open 11/1 – 4/14
Closed area number 17-B, Basin Cove; open 12/1 – 4/30.
Closed area number 17-B, Ash Point Cove and Stover Cove; open 10/1 – 4/30.
Closed area number 18, Orrs Cove, Quahog Bay; open 12/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 18, Mill Cove, Quahog Bay; open 10/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 19-A, Upper New Meadows River; open 11/16 – 4/30
Closed area number 20, Kennebec River by Cox Head; open 1/1 - 9/30
Closed area number 20, Kennebec River by Squirrel Pt; open 1/1 - 9/30
Closed area number 20, Kennebec River Todd Bay; open 1/1-8/31
Closed area number 36D (Part B), Penobscot-Bagaduce Rivers marina area; open 11/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 39-A (Part B), Benjamin River; open 11/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 39-A (Part C), Center Harbor, Brooklin; open 11/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 44, Somes Harbor, Mt Desert; open 10/1 – 4/30; and Gary Moore Cove open 11/15 – 4/30
Closed area number 47, Thomas Bay, Bar Harbor;
Conditional 10/1 – 4/30 Restricted 5/1 – 9/30
Closed area number 50, Sorrento Harbor; open 10/1 – 4/30
Closed area number 52-F, Birch Harbor, Gouldsboro; open 11/1 – 6/30
Closed area 54-B, Indian and West Rivers, Jonesport-Addison; open 10/1 – 4/30
For details about the closure lines contact your local Marine Patrol Officer or the Marine Patrol Headquarters in your area."
