All commercial shellfishing permit conditions,
general commercial shellfishing rules and regulations and shellfishery
conservation and management regulations apply. In addition the following
conditions, rules and regulations apply:
A.
Definitions of quahogs.
B.
Minimum size limit. Shellfish shall be culled and
all seed returned to the waters and flats immediately. Persons shall
not take or have in their possession (in basket, bucket, bag or other
container) quahogs less than one inch shell thickness (hinge width)
to the amount of more than 5% of any batch.
C.
Gear restrictions. Quahogs may be commercially harvested
by hand, rakes, tongs, dipnet and bullrake. No other device may be
used, unless approved by Natural Resources.
D.
All helpers actively assisting a commercially licensed shellfisherman
harvesting quahogs shall be required to hold a valid Massachusetts
commercial shellfish and seaworms permit. Said helper shall be allowed
to cull and sort the quahog catch and return seed to the water. Said
helper shall not be allowed to harvest quahogs. All helpers must present
their valid Massachusetts commercial shellfish and seaworms permit,
in person, to the Natural Resources office prior to initially assisting
a commercially licensed shellfisherman.
[Added 12-1-2018]
A.
Harvest days. The commercial harvest of quahogs on
the Southside of the Town of Barnstable shall be allowed on Monday
through Saturday. Harvest by commercial permit on Sunday is prohibited.
B.
Commercial quahog harvest limit. The total daily limit
of littleneck, cherrystone or mixed (littleneck/cherrystone) shall
not exceed three level tote baskets, as defined. The total daily limit
of all quahogs (i.e., littlenecks, cherrystones and chowders) shall
not exceed five level tote baskets in any combination. Chowder quahogs
shall be culled and bagged separately from littlenecks and cherrystones
prior to landing, if the total catch exceeds three tote baskets.
A.
Harvest days. The commercial harvest of quahogs on
the Northside shall be allowed on Monday through Friday. However,
commercial harvest is prohibited on Wednesdays, May 1 through October
15 annually.
B.
Commercial quahog harvest limit. The total daily limit
of commercially harvested quahogs shall not exceed two level tote
baskets, as defined.
C.
Commercial quahog harvest area restriction. The commercial
harvest of quahogs shall be allowed east of a line extending north
from the Barnstable Yacht Club pier.
[Amended 10-26-2022]
