Action Plan 2 Protecting and Enhancing Shellfish Resources

Problem

Shellfish (mollusks and crustaceans) are an important but diminishing resource in Buzzards Bay. Catch statistics suggest that populations of many mollusk species and lobster populations are declining. Declining catch of lobster may be related to disease and water quality degradation. Mollusk catch declines are the result of habitat declines and sanitary closures. Although the acreage of shellfish bed permanent closures has declined in Buzzards Bay in recent years, numerous areas remain permanently closed. Exacerbating the problem, funding for shellfish propagation and relay programs has been cut back appreciably in recent years. In 2023, new FDA rules for the National Shellfish Sanitation Program require expansive mandatory closures around municipal wastewater treatment facility outfalls, and the new requirements will result in the closure of tens of thousands of acres of shellfish growing areas in Buzzards Bay, affecting both commercial and recreational shellfishermen.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) implements shellfish bed management based on ambient water quality in shellfish beds and a mostly visual evaluation of potential pollution sources along the coast (Shellfish Sanitation Survey Program). Additional coordi-nation and collaboration are needed between DMF and municipalities to reduce closures further.

This action plan narrowly addresses steps to enhance the availability and productivity of shellfish resource areas. It compliments other action plans that target specific pollutants and impacts, especially Action Plan 3 Managing Stormwater Runoff and Promoting LID, and Action Plan 1 Managing Nitrogen Sensitive Embayments.

Goals and Objectives

Changes: The goals and objectives were re-worded improve clarity and readability and to include climate objectives. Four new objectives were added to clarify actions needed to meet stated goals.

Goal 2.1. Increase availability of shellfish resources for recreational and commercial use.

Goal 2.2. Restore habitat to increase the abundance and distribution of shellfish resources.

Objective 2.1. Support efforts to prevent new shellfish resource areas closures, and open priority resource areas.

Objective 2.2. Increase the ability of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to carry out the sanitary survey program, comply with the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, and provide technical assistance to municipalities to better manage shellfish resources.

Objective 2.3. Increase the capacity and commitment of municipalities to remediate pollution sources that are contributing to shellfish bed closures or not meeting the watershed’s bacterial total maximum daily load limits.

Objective 2.4. Where justified, expand the use of the rainfall conditionally approved classification to reduce seasonally closed or prohibited shellfish areas.

Objective 2.5. Eliminate pollution sources and disturbances contributing to the permanent loss of shellfish habitat.

Objective 2.6. Expand programs to propagate, seed, and relay shellfish.

Objective 2.7. Promote and support activities to enhance and restore of shellfish habitat, especially efforts that ensure shellfish resources remain resilient to changes in habitat and water quality caused by climate change, or concurrently ameliorate coastal eutrophication. (Split from previous objective)

Objective 2.9. Promote research to better define the relationship between temperature and precipitation and shellfish water quality indicators and associated habitat (e.g., eelgrass beds). (New)

Objective 2.10. Implement pH and carbonate system monitoring around Buzzards Bay to understand changes over time and impacts to shellfish and other living resources. (New)

Objective 2.11. Reduce seasonally closed shellfish beds on July 1 to 3,150 acres (11% decline) by 2035. (New)

Objective 2.12. Ensure that the boundaries of mandatory shellfish closures around wastewater outfalls are based on sound science. (New)