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Buzzards Bay Project
National Estuary Program

Human Health Issues: Fish and Shellfish Closures & Advisories
Our Mission: To protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed through the implementation of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.




Last update October 9, 2002
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In the adjoining figure are shellfish bed closures as of the spring of 1998 (note: during the summer additional harbors tend to be closed), mercury and PCB advisories for fish in freshwater ponds, and New Bedford superfund site seafood consumption restrictions.





Key:

1. Lake Noquochoke (Westport & Dartmouth): PCBs and Mercury advisory
2. Copicut River and Cornell Pond (Dartmouth): PCBs and Mercury advisory
3. Turner Pond (Dartmouth & New Bedford): Mercury advisory
4. Superfund Area I (New Bedford-Fairhaven & Acushnet): PCBs-closed to all fishing
5. Superfund Area II (New Bedford & Fairhaven & Dartmouth): PCBs-closed to Lobsters, eels, flounders, scup, and tautog
6. Superfund Area III (New Bedford & Fairhaven &Dartmouth): PCBs-closed to lobstering
7. Snipatuit and Long Pond (Rochester): Mercury advisory
8. Great Herring Pond (Bourne and Plymouth): Mercury advisory
9. Snake Pond (Sandwich): Mercury advisory
10. Johns Pond (Falmouth & Mashpee): Mercury advisory
11. Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds (Mashpee): Mercury advisory


Related Information:

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fact Sheet on Mercury in Freshwater ponds

Massachusetts Department of Public Health list of advisories for Mercury and PCBs in all MA Freshwater ponds

EPA page about fish consumption advisories

EPA fact sheet: National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories, May 2002 (a pdf file)

EPA fact sheet: 2001 National Listing of Fish & Wildlife Advisories (a pdf file)

EPA fact sheet: A Guide to Healthy Eating of the Fish You Catch" Includes fish consumption issues particular to women of childbearing age and children. (a pdf file)