Georges Bank Shellfish Edible Again, Scientists Say

New research on harmful algal blooms or “red tide” and at-sea and dockside testing protocols funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will allow for fishermen to harvest ocean quahogs and surf clams on Georges Bank for the first time in more than 20 years, announced the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Wednesday.

 It is estimated the Georges Bank fishery can produce up to 1 million bushels of surf clams and ocean quahogs a year, valued $10 - 15 million annually.

“There is a billion dollars’ worth of shellfish product on Georges Bank that is property of the United States but that can't be harvested because of the threat of toxicity, and 99.9% of the time, it is good wholesome product,” said Dave Wallace of North Atlantic Clam Association in a statement released by WHOI. 

Georges Bank, which extends from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, is one of the best fishing grounds on earth, according to the WHOI statement. Yet, since 1990, it has been closed to harvesting of shellfish after harmful red tides caused paralytic shellfish poisoning that sickened fishermen.  For decades scientists speculated the blooms on Georges Bank were fueled by coastal blooms in the Gulf of Maine.

For the complete press release click here.

– Written from a press release. Previously published on Falmouth Patch.

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