WATERWAYS

Oystering Season Opens Next Wednesday

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Recreational Oystering Season Opens Wednesday November 5, 2025

Information to obtain permit found HERE

Shellfish Area Maps HERE

Shellfishing Regulations HERE

ENJOY!

Oyster season in Barnstable officially opens next Wednesday November 5th!!! Reminder that the weekly limit is 1 level peck per shellfishing week.

10/30/25  The water quality samples taken for Shoestring Bay, North Bay, the Seapuit River and Mill Creek have all come back clean, so all of these areas will re-open to shellfishing November 1st. Please remember however, that oyster harvest remains closed town wide until Wednesday November 5th. 

10/28/25 Please be advised that water quality sampling to re-open North Bay (Bay St, Great Bay Rd) November 1st thus far has come up dirty. Water quality sampling was done yesterday, I should know Thursday whether or not it will be open on the 1st and will send notification as soon as I know. Additional water quality sampling was also needed for the Seapuit River, Shoestring Bay and Mill Creek in Barnstable Harbor as they all also came up dirty ahead of their respective November 1 openings.

As always, if you have any questions please email me directly: amy.croteau@town.barnstable.ma.us 

Take Care, Amy Croteau Shellfish Constable Town of Barnstable. Questions please call Natural Resources 508-790-6272

Oystering Season Opens Today

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  Due to some confusion from the recreational shellfishers at Bay Street today, please note

If you harvest 1.0 peck of oysters at Bay Street, you are NOT ELIGIBLE to harvest oysters from anywhere else in Town until the following Sunday when the shellfish week starts over.

If you harvest 0.75 peck of oysters at Bay Street, you are ONLY ELIGIBLE to harvest 0.25 peck of oysters from anywhere else in Town until the following Sunday when the shellfish week starts over.

If you harvest 0.5 pecks of oysters at Bay Street, you are ONLY ELIGIBLE to harvest 0.5 peck of oysters from anywhere else in Town until the following Sunday when the shellfish week starts over.

The Town of Barnstable oyster season opens Wednesday November 1, 2023.

Places to harvest oysters include the Scudder Lane Recreational Shellfishing Area, the Bay Street Relay Area and the Bridge Street Recreational Shellfishing Area. Oysters must be 3″ in order for them to be legally harvested and kept in your catch.

The weekly limit for oysters is one level half peck (5 quarts dry measure) per shellfishing week at all locations with the exception of Bay Street where one level peck (10 quarts dry measure) may be harvested per shellfishing week.

**If you go to Bay Street and harvest one half peck of oysters, you may also go to another oyster location and harvest an additional half peck of oysters. You MAY NOT do this if you harvest a full peck of oysters at Bay St in any given shellfishing week**

**Reminder on parking at Scudder: this link HERE shows the Town line in the lower lot at Scudder.

**Parking Compliance enforces beach sticker requirements year round, and if you do not have a beach sticker and park in the upper or lower lot at Scudder and do not have a Town of Barnstable beach sticker, you may be issued a citation. Parking is allowed on the right hand side of the road as you approach the landing unless otherwise posted.**

Happy Oyster Season!

Questions please call Natural Resources 508-790-6272

Information to obtain permit found HERE

Shellfish Area Maps HERE

Shellfishing Regulations HERE

ENJOY!

Selective Shellfish Areas to Reopen Sunrise Tomorrow

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UPDATE: AUGUST 11, 2023

Barnstable Harbor, Cotuit Bay and West Bay are all cleared to re-open to shellfishing effective sunrise tomorrow 08/12/2023.

These areas will revert to the open/closed maps from before the emergency closure meaning that any areas within these water bodies that were closed prior to the emergency closure, remain closed.

Shellfish open and closed area maps should be updated by tomorrow morning to show the most up to date maps, you can view them HERE and HERE

Be sure to check the maps tomorrow before the afternoon tide to ensure you are headed out to an open area as all of Hyannis and Poponessett Bay remain CLOSED until further notice.

Take Care,

Amy Croteau

Any questions please call the Division of Marine Fisheries at 978-282-0308.

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Water Quality – Beach Status

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July 13, 2023 | Public Health Advisory – Long Pond, Marstons Mills and Lovells Pond, Cotuit

Jul 13, 2023 | Beach Water Quality Updates, cyanobacteria

The following water quality updates have been issued for Thursday, July 13, 2023:

  • A Public Health Advisory will be posted at Long Pond, Marstons Mills within 24 hours due to cyanobacteria bloom being present
  • A Public Health Advisory will be posted at Lovells Pond, Cotuit within 24 hours due to cyanobacteria bloom being present
  • A Pet Advisory will be posted at Parker Pond, Osterville within 24 hours due to increasing cyanobacteria biomass
  • Pet Advisory postings remain at Long Pond, Centerville and Schoolhouse Pond, Hyannis 

Public Health Advisory

Monday July 10, 2023

Town: Barnstable 

Sample Date: 07-10-2023

Cyanobacteria Status: Use Restriction Recommended

Town Action: Yes

Scum: –

Dominance: Microcystis

Recent Activity: 07/03/2023: Potential for Concern, 06/27/2023: Potential for Concern

Water Temp: 79.6 °F, 26.66 °C

CCC-ID: BA-759

Notes: Town Posted a Public Health Advisory

If you are interested in receiving more information about Cyanobacteria and locations monitored, you may view the 2023 Cyanobacteria Monitoring Map at https://apcc.org/our-work/science/community-science/cyanobacteria/

If you are interested in receiving email notifications when there is a potential toxic bloom identified by Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), you may opt-in by clicking this link: https://apcc.org/our-work/science/community-science/cyanobacteria/cyanobacteria-alert/ where you will be asked to enter your email address in order to receive cyanobacteria alerts.

Thomas A. McKean, RS, CHO
Director of Public Health
TOWN OF BARNSTABLE


Lovells Pond, Santuit

Sample Date: 06-27-2023

Cyanobacteria Status: Potential for Concern

Town Action: Yes

Scum:

Dominance: Microcystis

Recent Activity: 06/26/2023: Potential for Concern, 06/12/2023: Acceptable

Water Temp: 74 °F, 23.52 °C

CCC-ID: BA-759

Notes: Pet Advisory Posted by Town 6/27/23

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Sample Date: 06-26-2023  

Cyanobacteria Status: Potential for Concern

Town Action: No

Scum: Bright green 2 cm scum line. Green particles throughout the water column

Dominance: Microcystis

Recent Activity: 06/12/2023: Acceptable, 05/25/2023: Acceptable

Water Temp: 73.7 °F, 23.35 °C

CCC-ID: BA-759

View Current Water Quality Monitoring & Beach Status Report  HERE

Cyanobacteria FAQ HERE

Mass DEP Finalizes New Title V & Watershed Permit Regulations

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Received today from Mass DEP regarding the new Title V and Watershed Permit Regulations that are now public but will not be effective until July 7, 2023.

310 CMR 15.000: Septic Systems (“Title 5”) | Mass.gov

314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit Regulations | Mass.gov

Frequently Asked Questions HERE