The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested a termination of the emergency regulations of July 7, 2008, which implemented a revised temporary Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) closure (i.e., Temporary PSP Closure Area) due to the presence of high levels of the toxin that causes PSP. NMFS recently published a notice, effective November 18, 2008, to terminate the current closure and reactivate the previous closure, implemented on January 1, 2008 and effective through December 31, 2009. The northern component of the Temporary PSP Closure Area prohibits all bivalve molluscan shellfish fishing, with the exception of sea scallop adductor muscles harvested and shucked at sea. The southern component of the Temporary PSP Closure Area prohibits only the harvest of whole or roe-on scallops.

Chart of PSP Closure Areas December 30, 2008 - Federal Register Notice December 30, 2008 - Permit Holder Letter Shellfish Fishery Failure Determination -- On November 14, 2008 the Secretary of Commerce declared a commercial fishery failure due to a harmful algal bloom, commonly referred to as red tide, in ocean waters off Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Subsequently, on November 18, 2008, NOAA Fisheries Service announced that the affected states would be eligible for up to $5 million total in Federal disaster aid with Maine to receive $2 million, Massachusetts to receive $2 million and New Hampshire to receive $1 million (click here for more information).

Warning sign posted in areas where shellfish have been contaminated by a red tide. (credit NOAA)

Past Red Tide Closure Notices November 21, 2008 - Federal Register Notice November 18, 2008 - Permit Holder Letter July 7, 2008 - Federal Register Notice July 2, 2008 - Permit Holder Letter December 31, 2007 - Federal Register Notice December 28, 2007 - Permit Holder Letter June 27, 2007 - Federal Register Notice June 27-28, 2007 - Permit Holder Letters December 28, 2006 - Permit Holder Letter June 30, 2006 - Federal Register Notice June 28, 2006 - Permit Holder Letter June 23, 2006 - U.S. Food and Drug Administration Request for Continuance of Current PSP Closure May 2006, Environmental Assessment December 23, 2005 - Permit Holder Letter September 29, 2005 - Permit Holder Letter October 18, 2005 - Federal Register Notice September 9, 2005 - Federal Register Notice September 8 2005 - Correction Permit Holder Letter September 7, 2005 - Permit Holder Letter

Red Tide (credit NOAA)

• Click Here for FAQs on Red Tide/Commercial Fishery Failure
• Click Here for Information About Pilot-PSP Dockside Monitoring Study

• Shellfish Fishery Failure Determination - On June 16, 2005, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez yesterday announced a formal determination that the Massachusetts shellfish fishery is in a commercial failure triggered by a massive red tide bloom in the New England region. The determination came in response to a June 10, 2005, letter from Governor Mitt Romney requesting disaster assistance for the hard hit Massachusetts shellfish industry (Click here for more information).  On June 14, 2005, the State of Maine submitted a similar request that is currently under consideration.
  • Secretary of Commerce Letter to Governor of Massachusetts
  • Governor of Massachusetts letter to Secretary of Commerce
  • Governor of Maine letter to Secretary of Commerce
    • Maine DMR Letter to NOAA Fisheries

• NOAA Fisheries Service Takes Emergency Action to Address Red Tide - On June 14, 2005, NOAA Fisheries Service issued an emergency action to close a portion of Federal waters off the coasts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts to the harvest of all species of shellfish (bivalves), with the exception of scallop meats, due to the spread of toxic algal blooms (red tide). This is the largest bloom on record in New England history warranting a public health emergency (Click here for more information).
• NOAA Fisheries Service Permit Holder Letter (06/16/05)
• Federal Register Emergency Action (06/16/05)

Relevant Websites:

• NOAA Establishes New England Red Tide Information Website
• NOAA New England Red Tide Information Center
• Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries: PSP Closure Notices
• NOAA Oceans Service
• NOAA Fisheries Service
• Red Tide Triggers New England Shellfish Fishery Failure Determination
• Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB)
• Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB)