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Maine Shellfish Growing Area Classification Program

   

Anna Bourakovsky, Boothbay supervisor, field work
Robert Goodwin, Lamoine supervisor, field work
Mercuria Cumbo, supervisor, lab work

Program Description

The Growing Area Classification Program evaluates all shellfish growing areas in the state of Maine to determine their suitability of harvest. See Maine Shellfish Growing Area Reports.

This program is guided by the NSSP standards. Please select this link to find the 2007 NSSP Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish (commonly called the "Model Ordinance").

Because molluscan shellfish (those that have a hinged shell, such as clams, mussels, oysters, quahogs, etc.) are filter feeders, the quality of the waters in which they grow is a key factor in determining whether they are safe to eat.

Growing Area Surveys

A growing area's classification is determined by conducting a "sanitary survey," which is a three-fold process consisting of:

• A shoreline survey, which identifies pollution sources that may impact water quality. The program evaluates sewage treatment plants, onsite sewage systems, animal farms, drainage ways, and wildlife;
• Marine water sampling to determine fecal coliform bacterial levels in the marine water; and
• Analysis of how weather conditions, tides, currents, and other factors may affect the distribution of pollutants in the area.

More information on survey and reporting schedules here.

Growing Area Classifications

Each commercially harvested growing area is assigned a "classification" according to the results of its evaluation. A growing area may be classified as Approved, Conditionally Approved, Restricted, Conditionally Restricted, or Prohibited.

More information on what the classifications mean and how they are determined, here.

Once classified, all shellfish growing areas are regularly monitored. Marine water samples are collected throughout the year. Shoreline surveys are conducted less frequently, but each year some portion of the Maine coast (47 shellfish growing areas) are surveyed. During those surveys, all actual and potential pollution sources that may impact water quality are evaluated.

The purpose of continued water sampling and shoreline surveys is to ensure that growing areas continue to meet the standards associated with their classification, to modify classifications when needed, and to notify the responsible agencies about identified and potential pollution sources.

The PDF files below require Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader (download here).  If you need an alternate format, please contact Michelle Mason Webber .

Field Component

• 2009 Growing Area Standard Operating Procedures - (310 KB, pdf)
• FDA memo regarding Conditional Area study plans 1-25-02 (16 KB, pdf)

Laboratory Component

• 2009 Growing Area Standard Operating Procedures - (310 KB, pdf)
• Water Quality transition to membrane filtration for seawater and pollution source samples - (21 KB, pdf)
• FDA Water Quality Laboratory Evaluations

Maine Growing Area Classification Legal Notices Inventory

• Descriptions and maps (same link as Bacterial Closures button above)

Reports and Studies

• FDA Program Review - FDA annual audits (PEERs) including 2008, and an Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) review
• 2007 Maine Legislative Review of DMR's Growing Area Classification Program
• Maine Shellfish Growing Area Reports - Annual, Triennial, and Sanitary Survey Reports and Tabulated Data
• Depuration, Relay and Wet Storage reference documents
• Hydrographic Studies

Resources and Educational Material for Municipalities and Industry

• Fact sheet on sewage and fecal pollution of Maine waters (175 KB, pdf)
• 2009 Guide for Maine Pumpout Stations (165 KB, pdf) (If you have questions about this guide, call the Department of Environmental Protection at 207-287-7905)
• Dave Sargent and Wayne Castonguay's Water Quality Sampling: An Optical Brightener Handbook . The authors provide a summary of the handbook: "The use of Optical Brightener testing as an indicator in helping to identify: faulty septic systems, sewage exfiltration, storm cross-connections, and human/animal waste differentiation"

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