In accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 130, Section 74A, the Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that the below defined “CONDITIONALLY APPROVED” portions of Mashpee River and Shoestring Bay (SC:20), in the Towns of Barnstable and Mashpee, no longer meet the established criteria for the harvest of shellfish due to seasonal water quality changes. The status of these areas will be changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING” as of sunrise on April 1, 2022.
Therefore, under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 74A, the status of the below defined areas have been changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING”. Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish from the below defined areas is prohibited.
Under the authority of 322 CMR 7.01 (7) all permits issued thereunder are herby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish from the below defined areas.
CLASSIFICATION: CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
SEASONAL STATUS CHANGE Status: Closed to Shellfishing April 1 – October 31 [DATES INCLUSIVE]
SC:20.1
Mashpee River, South
“The waters, flats and all tributaries of that portion of the Mashpee River in the Town of Mashpee, west of a line drawn south from southern most point of Mashpee Neck to Punkhorn Point and south of a line drawn from the “NO SHELLFISHING” sign at Buccaneer Way westerly across the river to the “NO SHELLFISHING” sign on the opposite shore”.

CLASSIFICATION: CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
SEASONAL STATUS CHANGE Status: Closed to Shellfishing April 1 – October 31 [DATES INCLUSIVE]
SC:20.3 Shoestring Bay
“The waters, flats and all tributaries of that portion of Shoestring Bay in the Towns of Mashpee and Barnstable, easterly of a line drawn south from the southern most point of Mashpee Neck to Punkhorn Point; northerly of a line drawn from Punkhorn Point to Ryefield Point and southerly of a line drawn from Simons Narrows Road in the Town of Mashpee to the “Public Way To Water” in the Town of Barnstable”.
The preceding Conditionally Approved areas, SC:20.1 and SC:20.3 shall remain in the closed status during the inclusive dates. The status will not automatically revert to “OPEN TO SHELLFISHING” on November 1, 2022 but will remain closed until examined by the Division and notification is made that the area has been placed in the open status.