Division of Marine Fisheries announces that the Nauset Estuary is closed to the harvest of all shellfishdue to Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) toxin, known also as red tide.

March 7, 2012Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine FisheriesPaul J. Diodati, Director251 Causeway Street, Suite 400, Boston, Massachusetts 02114(617) 626-1520Due to Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) toxin (also known as “Red Tide”) in shellfish the Division of Marine Fisheries has closed the entire below-defined Nauset Marsh System. Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 74A and 75, the status of the below-defined areas have been changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING”, effective immediately. Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish, including carnivorous snails, from the below- defined areas is prohibited.Under authority of322 CMR 7.01(7) all permits issued thereunder are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish from the below-defined areas.AREAS CLOSED TO THE HARVEST OF ALL SHELLFISHNAUSET SYSTEM OC:2-0C:6OC:2 NAUSET HARBOR, EASTHAM/ORLEANSThe waters, flats and all tributaries of Nauset Harbor in the Towns of Eastham and Orleans, northerly of a line drawn across the mouth of Mill Pond in the Town of Orleans; southerly of a line drawn across the Middle Channel at the Eastham/Orleans town line; southerly of a line drawn across the southern mouth of the Hemenway River in the Town of Eastham; and easterly of a line drawn across the mouth of Town Cove.OC: 3 MILL POND, ORLEANSThe waters, flats and all tributaries of Mill Pond in the Town of Orleans, southerly of a line drawn across the mouth of Roberts Cove.OC:4 TOWN COVE, ORLEANS/EASTHAMThe waters, flats and all tributaries of Town Cove in the Towns of Eastham and Orleans southwesterly of a line drawn from Snow Point in the Town of Orleans to the western side of the mouth to the Hemenway River at Fort Hill in the Town of Eastham.OC:S NAUSET MARSH, EASTHAMThe waters, flats and all tributaries of Nauset Marsh in the Town of Eastham, northerly of a line drawn across the Middle Channel at the Eastham/Orleans Town Line; westerly of a line drawn across the mouth of Nauset Harbor; northerly of a line drawn across the mouth of the Hemenway River at Fort Hill in the Town of Eastham; and easterly of a line drawn across the entrance of Salt Pond in the Town of Eastham.OC:6 SALT POND, EASTHAM The waters, flats and all tributaries of Salt Pond in the Town of Eastham, westerly of a line drawn across the mouth of Salt Pond.