On November 1, 2022, a shellfish sit-in was held near the Scituate beds. Photo credit: Gill Johnston.
For more than two years, 600 acres of shellfish beds have been closed in Scituate and Marshfield.
Numerous protestshave taken place since then, with environmentalists, politicians, and residents advocating for the reopening.
On Tuesday, the Scituate Shellfish Advisory Committee received some good news from Jeff Kennedy, a biologist with the State Division of Marine Fisheries.
He says after testing, the beds can open, with some restrictions. The new season is set to open on January 1.
The concern for the 2020 closure was the proximity to that Scituate wastewater treatment plant.
The new winter area will include 277 acres, or 46% of the historic area along the North and South Rivers. The new spring season will include 369 acres, or 61%.
Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo, also the Shellfish Constable in Scituate, says there will be new regulations.
The Marshfield Selectboard will vote on the updated regulations during their December 19th meeting. The Scituate Selectboard is set to vote the following night.
