North Atlantic 



Oyster landings, though sporadic, 

 generally declined in Massachusetts 

 from 87,000 pounds in 1986 to 44,000 

 pounds in 1 989. Some of this decline 

 resulted from the closure of the 

 Taunton River to all shellfish harvest- 

 ing. To mitigate this closure, the State 

 supervises a relay program which 

 moves clams from the Taunton River 

 to approved areas in Cape Cod Bay. 

 These clams are monitored for toxic 

 chemicals as well as for coliform 



bacteria. Nevertheless, clam landings 

 declined by almost 50 percent from 

 9.5 million pounds to 5.4 million 

 pounds. This resulted, in part, from 

 the closure of several large shellfish- 

 growing areas in Boston and Massa- 

 chusetts bays. Mussel landings from 

 aquaculture operations and from 

 Nantucket Shoals were minimal. 



Massachusetts also had a large 

 increase in scallop harvest, primarily 



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