



There are a number of areas closed to the harvesting of surfclams and ocean quahogs. Such areas are closed either due to environmental degradation, concentrations of undersized surfclams, or due to toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). See below for charts and coordinates of closure areas.
The Boston Foul Ground is closed to all surfclam or ocean quahog fishing. It is located at 42°25'36" N. lat., 70°35'00" W. long., with a radius of 1 nautical mile in every direction from that point.
The New York Bight (also see below for detailed map and coordinates) and 106 dumpsite are closed to all surfclam or ocean quahog fishing. The 106 Dumpsite is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:
106 Dump Site | ||
---|---|---|
Point | Latitude | Longitude |
1 | 39º 00’ | 72º 30’ |
2 | 39º 00’ | 72º 00’ |
3 | 38º 40’ | 72º 00’ |
4 | 38º 40’ | 72º 30’ |
1 | 39º 00’ | 72º 30’ |
The New York Bight Closure Area is closed to all surfclam or ocean quahog harvesting; and is located at 40°25'04" N. lat., 73°42'38" W. long., with a radius of 6 nm in every direction from that point, extending further northwestward, westward, and southwestward between a line from a point on the arc at 40°31'00" N. lat., 73°43'38" W. long., directly northward toward Atlantic Beach Light in New York to the limit of the state territorial waters of New York; and a line from the point on the arc at 40°19'48" N. lat., 73°45'42" W. long., to a point at the limit of the state territorial waters of New Jersey at 40°14'00" N. lat., 73°55'42" W. See chart for a more detailed description of the location.
The Georges Bank PSP contaminated area, is closed to all bivalve molluscan shellfish fishing (including surfclams and ocean quahogs), and is located east of 69° W. longitude, and south of 42°20' N. latitude, extending to the boundary of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A portion of the Georges Bank Closed Area is reopened for Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog harvesting, provided specified PSP testing requirements are other regulations are followed (see below).
Reopened Portion of the GB PSP Closure Area | ||
---|---|---|
Point | N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
1 | 42°00’ | 68°50’ |
2 | 42°00’ | 67°20’ |
3 | 41°00’ | 67°20’ |
4 | 41°00’ | 67°10’ |
5 | 40°40’ | 67°10’ |
6 | 40°40’ | 68°30’ |
7 | 41°30’ | 68°30’ |
8 | 41°30’ | 68°50’ |
1 | 42°00’ | 68°50’ |
In addition to the requirements of the traditional Atlantic surfclam/ocean quahog fishery, to fish in the reopened area (above), a vessel must also do all of the following: