Clams should not be kept sealed in plastic or covered with tape. ), contact an area Chamber of Commerce Information Center. There are numerous fresh water areas along the coast and around the world where mollusks can thrive. I brought a camera along and tried to capture a bit of the weekend and this is the result. Check with your nearest Maine shellfishing township to find out when yours is open for clamming, as the dates change depending on the area. A shellfish license is required to take shellfish from flats located in Bar Harbor. For Freeport residents of 12 months or more & Freeport property owners- limited to 180 licenses. In addition, the Shellfish Conservation Warden shall serve as an ex-officio member. C. is a member of a federally recognized tribe that does not require saltwater to be registered in the state. The common periwinkle is the most common intertidal snail. Individuals 12 years or younger do not need a license to assist a recreational shellfish license holder in harvesting not more than one peck of shellfish in total per day. Maine Pirates Past Figures and Present Fun, The Coast of Maine: A Prime Playground for Kids, The Best of Both Worlds: Take a Gourmet Food Tour Aboard a Schooner. Other species of shellfish do not require a license for recreational harvest. The Spring ME-NH trawl survey conducted by the State of Maine, Department of Marine Resources is scheduled to begin May 1, 2023 in New Hampshire working east to Lubec. Fees: A non-refundable $10 annual application fee will be charged for all mooring permit applications. License Fees: Resident Commercial $230.00 Non-Resident Commercial $430.00 Resident Recreational $16.00 (includes $5.00 water quality fee) Clams can be found anywhere in Maine, and you must have a license from town hall and someone who can point you in the direction of the local flats. The commission's responsibilities include: To check to see if there are any closures, please call the Shellfish Hotline at 207-730-4300, extension 1 Second, you will need a bucket. Most fishermen can take a bushel or two a day, depending on where they live. The revenues generated by the sale of these licenses will be deposited in a special trust fund that will provide longterm financial support for Maine's fish and wildlife. 2022 to 2023 Ogunquit Clamming Season. Anglers of all skill levels must have a saltwater fishing license, regardless of whether they are using a rod, reel, or trap. To learn more about clam digging past and present, check out the Downeast Fisheries Trail. This season for soft shell clams runs from May to October and is seasonal. Fifth, you will need a coolers to keep the clams alive and fresh. Clam knives, which are specialized blades with rounded tips that slide into the narrow gaps between shells, are the most effective way to open them. In addition to providing information, Anchor & Hope also provides delicious seafood recipes that are easy to follow. According to the spokesman, the goal of this initiative is to prevent contaminated shellfish from ever entering the market. Shellfish under age 18A $ 67 Comm. $8.00 Covers all authorities that you are qualified to receive, see below. If you want to get a little more out of your clams, you can buy a variety of licenses. crossbow, archery, etc.). There is also a seasonal closure statewide from June 15th to September 15th. Recreational licenses are typically required in many towns, and they can be obtained in the town office or from the shellfish warden. Phone: 207-725-6658, City Clerk, City Hall, 205 Main Street If you find a hole, dig it 6 to 8 inches deep so that you dont hit the clams with your hoe. Applicants must present a copy of their application to the clerk in person. The Maine Shellfish Sanitation Hotline number is 800-232-4733. Note: Not all town clerks issue nonresident licenses. European Oysters are characterized by their rounder, flatter shell. After you hear or feel the scraping of the shell, gently rake the sand about one inch below the surface. Please see below for a range of business activities and events where a license or permit may be required. Licenses can also be obtained by completing and mailing in the application form (PDF). Licenses can also be obtained by completing and mailing in theapplication form (PDF). A quarter-pound of Maines most famous bivalve can be purchased for $1, or approximately 12 pounds of pecks of clams. The license is free of charge and is valid for one year. The types of licenses, their costs, and the duration of the licenses are given in the application. Town of Kennebunkport, PO Box 566, 6 Elm Street, Kennebunkport, ME 04046 PH: (207) 967-4243 FAX: (207) 967-8470Town Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Website Disclaimer | Government Websites by CivicPlus | Site Map, *LD 290 - Stabilization of Property Taxes - Application and Guidance*, **Short Term Rental - FAQS and THINGS TO REMEMBER, FEMA 2017: Preliminary Maps & Information, Local Property Tax Assistance Application, Local Property Tax Assistance Information, District 2 - Cape Porpoise & Wildes District, Cape Porpoise Pier Rules Adopted 11-13-2014, Complaints against employees of the Kennebunkport Police Department, Updated: Posted Roads - February 27, 2023until April 3, 2023, Kennebunk High School Accreditation Report, Trash & Recycling Pickup 2023 Printable Calendar. Clamming is an excellent way to get a taste of the tidal flow firsthand. 2019-20 Maine Scallop Season Overview; 2020-21 Maine Scallop Season Overview; 2021-22 Maine Scallop Season Overview; Sea Cucumbers; Sea Urchins; Shrimp (Northern) Worms (Marine) Whelks; Licenses. If you want to dig yourself, you can get a license by coming by the office on a weekday and well assist you. Nicholas Upham is the Shellfish Warden. If you find clams on the beach, you can keep them as long as you have a permit. The peak of the Soft Shell Clams Harvest season is between May and October. Other types of clams that can be found in Maine include the soft-shell clam, the razor clam, and the geoduck. Anglers who do not live in Maine and use a rod, reel, or trap as bait must obtain a saltwater fishing permit. A license is the property of the Town Clerk. First, you will need a shovel. 4-inch minimum size measured along the longest axis. After finding and digging your first few clams, youll notice that there are air holes all over the place. Towns may restrict these quantities even further through their shellfish conservation ordinance. The license allows the harvest of one peck of clams per day for personal use only. The Application period re-opens for non-residents at the end of September. The person accompanying and assisting the licensee must remain within the imme-diate proximity of the licensee while that licensee is fishing. There also is a one-day recreational shellfishing license. Phone: 207-833-5822, Freeport Town Hall, 30 Main Street Hinge width is measured at the thickest part of the clam near where the shells are joined together. Student Licenses. All rights reserved. Seasonal permits are valid for the entire clamming season, which runs from October 1st through April 30th. Maine Lobster Boat Racing: Be a Spectator! The fee for obtaining an Excavating License is $125. The fishing is free for Shellfishers over the age of 70. Check all licenses requested and indicate whether it is a renewal or new license. The recreational harvest limit is 1/2 bushel of whelks per person daily. After youve discovered some clams, simply pry them open with a fork. Link to freshwater fishing information (Maine IF&W) Recreational lobster fishing license; A Guide to Lobstering in Maine (PDF, 24 pages) Recreational scallop fishing license; Municipal recreational shellfish license information - See town ordinances. Shell heaps from native settlements are scattered along the coast, including at Machias, Passamaquoddy, Cobscook, and Frenchman Bays, and at Bar Harbor (in Wabanaki, the clam-gathering place). A permit is also required in order to dig for clams in Maine. The Magazine. Without a license, you could be fined up to $500. The Massachusetts Colonial Ordinance of 1641-1647 granted every household free fishing and fowling as far as the tide doth ebb and flow, and Maine retained this law when it became a state in 1820. And operating outside this, many Maine state parks, such as Reid State Park in Georgetown and Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport, permit recreational clamming without a license with park . The deep-sea red crab fishery of the New England Fishery Management Council is overseen by the Council. License Fees: $ 6.00 for spayed/neutered dogs $11.00 for unaltered dogs. Shellfish Season: The State of Maine has opened the clam flats in Biddeford for year-round harvesting from June 1st to May 31st. Quick Links. Other names: northern whelk, edible whelk, European whelk. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. 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The Maine Department of Marine Resources has a process for licensing and permitting individuals to harvest clams. The Maine Department of Marine Resources has an online interactive map with all of the shellfish closures listed as a layer in the map. Maine in Bloom: Experience a Variety of Maritime Gardens, Maines Maritime Museums: Troves of Treasures to Explore, Road Trip: Exploring Lighthouses in Maine. A person must be at least 12 years old to purchase a license, and those under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Clams have always been a staple resource to the people of the Downeast region. Clam digging has long been a part of coastal culture in Maine. Many towns require recreational licenses which can be obtained through the town office or municipal shellfish warden. Because a giant clam can live for more than 100 years, you should consider putting one in a warm, safe place. Licenses prices are as follows: Commercial Resident $1,000. Recreational licenses are required in many towns and can be obtained through their town office or by contacting their shellfish warden. * 1-day fishing license may be exchanged by a Maine resident for a season fishing or combination hunting and fishing license upon payment of the difference between that fee and the fee for the season license, plus the agent's fee. Today, the clamming industry is kept alive by the careful management of coastal Maine communities, including the seeding of clams to enhance wild stocks. Applicants must appear in person to fill out an application. For Non-Residents - limited to 20 licenses per year. It is unlawful to dig or take soft-shelled clams from flats located in Bar Harbor without a shellfish license issued by the town. Without a permit, you are not allowed to keep any clams you find. Mahogany quahogs are fished for by vessels with bottom drag gear and regulated by DMR and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Business Licenses & Permits. by Harley Gutirrez | Nov 15, 2022 | Clams. Minimum size is determined by a numerical count. Some argue that clams are the best seafood one can consume, but thats not the case. The Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages . The license is good for one year period beginning the first Monday in April. If youre looking for a different type of clam, the bay is a good place to start. A 3-day permit costs $15 for Maine residents and $30 for non-residents, while a 7-day permit costs $30 for Maine residents and $60 for non-residents. Commercial Licenses. To measure them, youll need a rake (quahog), a basket, and a gauge. 83 Minna St, San Francisco, CA, United States, California, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The Best Lights To Use For Razor Clamming At Night, Mussels: A Safe Delicacy During Breastfeeding, Both Of These Muscles Work Together To Create The Movement Of The Jaw, Why Do Fresh Water Clams Have White Spots, 5 Tips To Keep Your Pet Calm During A Severe Storm. This includes both long-term closures due to pollution and the risk of pollution from land-based sources, and short-term emergency closures due to biotoxins from harmful algal blooms, and short-term bacterial spikes in abundance due to heavy rain events. A person is required to keep their fishing license with them at all times while fishing or transporting fish and must exhibit their license for inspection by any warden, department employee, guide, or landowner upon request. There will be no non-resident commercial licenses issued this year. When a beach is overpopulated, small clams from another area are used to seed it. However, the majority of digging takes place between April and September. They plan to place a peck of 2-inch clams, approximately 12.5 pounds, in each layer of each of the cages for a total of 12 bushels, or approximately 600 pounds. Licenses expires on May 31 next following the date of issuance. This subsection does not authorize the person accompanying and assisting the licensee to assist that licensee with more than one fishing rod and reel. Without a license, you could be fined up to $500. Children age 12 or younger do not need a license to assist a recreational shellfish license holder. According to Melvin, clams can produce in excess of 1 million seeds per clam, or a minimum of 19.2 billion potential clams per upweller. Freeport Town Hall: 30 Main Street, Freeport, ME04032Phone: 207-865-4743 | Fax: 207-865-0929Office Hours: Monday through Thursday from 7:30am- 6:00pm, Purpose/Privacy PolicyGovernment Websites by CivicPlus. You should contact your local community to find out when the best time to dig is. If you are in doubt as to the status of a particular shellfish harvesting area or cannot access the DMR online map, contact the Harbormaster at 207-288-5571, Town Clerk, or Maine DMR. The number of non-resident commercial licenses available is adjusted annually by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Shellfish Licenses will be sold Monday, November 1, 2022 in the Dunaway Community Center, 23 School Street at 8 am. The Downeast Institute offers guided tours of their shellfish nursery. I love being a child again, up to the elbows and ankles in mud. Clam digging is a popular sport on the East Coast. Locals used to enjoy the festival as a seasonal pastime, but visitors to Los Angeles now enjoy it more than ever. Town Clerk, 263 Mountain Road They are effective July 1 through June 30. Year round licenses are valid from May 1st through April 30th of each year. Application period opens up on the first business day in June; first come, first served. Commercial Non-Resident with Conservation $ 750. You can then apply for a clamming license through the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Each person must obtain a license from the Town Office or Camping Area for harvesting of Softshell Clams, Hen/Surf Clams, and Quahogs. The number of commercial licenses available is adjusted annually by the Marine Resources Committee. An electronic license or permit can now be displayed in lieu of a physical paper license or permit. Many towns have a lot of it for visitors to try. Disabled Veterans:Maine resident and nonresident veterans (if reciprocal privileges exist in their home state) who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard and have a service-connected disability of 50% or more will be issued, upon application, a complimentary license to fish, trap, or hunt (including all necessary permits and other permissions, and upon meeting qualifications, a guide's license) as well as one expanded archery either sex permit and one expanded archery antlerless deer permit. Please keep in mind that depending on how you want to participate or be safe, you may need to call the Shellfish Hotline or visit the town website for information on how to get in on the action. To read the entire Town of Deer Isle Shellfish Conservation Ordinance, click on the link below. Licenses are valid from April 1 to March 31. You can fish in Maine saltwater only if you have a valid saltwater fishing license or a valid saltwater fishing permit from your state. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: More information is available at www.downeastinstitute.org, or by calling George Protopopescu at 207-497-5769. Enhanced retail certificate authorized. But before you can start digging for clams, you need to obtain a license. I witnessed all the Cutler traditions of the 4th, some of which included crate races, a parade (which I ended up riding in! Flat Opening/Closings The open clamming areas in Bar Harbor are described and mapped on the following documents provided by the Maine Department of Marine Resources: Closure Document for Area EI Closure Map for Area EI Closure Document for Area EG Closure Map for Area EG Licenses are issued annually July 1 and are valid through June 30. Approved and Prohibited Freshwater Species, Lobster Fishing License and Trap Tag Counts, Maine Lobster Research, Education, and Development Board, Maine Lobster Limited Entry and Apprentice Program, Eligibility Criteria for Maine Students Who Want to Start Lobstering, Lobster and Other Trap/Pot Gear Modification Requirements, River Herring (Alewives and Blueback Herring), Maine DMR Online Licensing System Frequently Asked Questions, Maine Diver and Dive Tender License Safety Training Requirements, On-Line Harvester Catch & Landings Reporting, Maine Harvester Landing Reporting Form Examples, Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry (license), Tuna, Shark, and Other Large Species Information, Tips for Catch and Release of Striped Bass, Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Opportunities to Participate, Maine Saltwater Sport Fishing Tournaments for 2022, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Summary, Shellfish Closures and Aquaculture Leases Map, Maine Shellfish Dealer Certification and Inspection, Municipal Shellfish Conservation Warden Information, Phytoplankton Monitoring Form and Guides for Volunteers, Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols, Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms, Salmon Restoration and Conservation Program (ASRCP), "Experimental" (Limited Purpose) Lease Applications and Forms, Limited-Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) License Applications and Forms, Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing, Atlantic Halibut Research Tags and Rewards, Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, Data Dashboard, Reports, and Publications, Maine Coastal Program's Mapping Initiative, MCMI - Current Projects and Program Highlights, Habitat Restoration and Tools (Maine Stream Habitat Viewer), Job, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities, ElectronicLandings Reporting Instructions, Landings Reporting Regulations (scroll down to Chapter 8), Maine Landings Data (for the most recent year), Historical Maine Landings Data (for the past 40-50 years), Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program, More Maine fisheries information by species, Business and Economic Development Resources. Myaaria, or soft shell clams, are commonly referred to as piss clams or steamer clams because they squirt water when you wander too close to their holes. 3-inch minimum size measured along the longest axis. The application fee is due at the time of permit application. Fees are waived for Bar Harbor residents under 16 and over 65 years old. After a few, gently place them in your bucket (or basket), top off with fresh water, and then return to the beach. Towns may occasionally close shellfish beds for conservation of the resource or because of polluted waters. Maine is home to some of the best clamming spots in the country. Pass on a Maine tradition and a gift that will last a lifetime. To learn more about how to experience digging and eating clams while on your visit to Downeast Maine (even if you want to skip the mud and just eat them at a restaurant! Digging clams was his main income during good weather, along with raking blueberries. TM 1996-2023 Mystic Media, Inc. & Visit New England. For additional information, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office (207) 730-4000 or complete our online contact form. Renew New Fees Commercial Shellfish A $133 Comm. My father used one of these, and a wooden slatted basket called a roller. If you would like additional information please call the Town Clerk's Office at (207) 725-6658. Theres no denying that clams are popular in Maine. All flats bordering the Wolfs Neck State Park are under the jurisdiction of the Freeport Shellfish Conservation Ordinance. The more information we have regarding our fisheries, the better equipped we are to defend these resources and your livelihoods. It's a windy April day, but much warmer than the rest of the clamming season in Wells, which runs from November to late March or early April. The American oyster is native to the east coast of North America.