NMFS Proposes to Reopen Georges Bank Closed Area for Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Harvest

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to open a portion of the Georges Bank Closed Area to the harvest of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs, which has been closed since 1990 due to the presence of toxins known to cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The FDA has determined that harvesting of surfclams and ocean quahogs for human consumption within this area is safe.