North of Boston/Merrimack Valley offers plenty of rich shellfish beds for vacation fun
City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue
Gloucester, MA
Phone: 978-281-9720
Two types of shellfishing permits re sold to non-residents. They are non-commercial clam and seaworm permit for a year for $175 and non-commercial clam permit for one day for $25. All permits are issued by the city clerk’s office at City Hall.
Color coded Maps, regulations, and ordinances can be obtained at city clerk’s offices. Questions may be referred to the Shellfish Constable at 978-281-9781. The 24-hour Shellfish Hotline is 978-281-9741.
25 Green Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
Phone: 978-356-6600 ext. 6710
The town issues recreational shellfishing permits to non-residents for $20 a day or $100 a year.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950
Phone: 978-465-5753
To fish at the clam flats from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, you must have a valid Refuge permit. To qualify for the Refuge permit, you must possess a valid clamming license from the Towns of Newbury (978-465-9241), Rowley (978-948-2081), or Ipswich (978-356-6600). Refuge permits must be applied for in person and are available year-round from Refuge headquarters during normal business hours and from the Refuge entrance gatehouse Sunset Drive when staffed. Refuge permits are valid through December 31 of the year of issuance.
Refuge shellfishing permits are issued free of charge. Recreational shellfishing permit holders are subject to a daily Refuge entrance fee of $5 per vehicle and $2 for walk-on or bicycle at the Plum Island section of the Refuge.
Use is limited to the normal hours of Refuge operation, sunrise to sunset. The Plum Island portion of the Refuge is closed whenever vehicle parking capacity is reached. At these times both recreational and commercial permit holders are allowed access for clamming purposes only, three hours before and three hours after low tides.
Access to Refuge shellfishing areas may also be prohibited due to other factors including Town flats closure for public health concerns. It is the responsibility of the clammer to know the status of the flats. This information is available from town halls, shellfish constables, or by phoning 978-356-6671. Access from the Refuge to all flats is from designated parking areas and by foot only.
139 Main Street / PO Box 351
Rowley, ME 01969
Phone: 978-948-2081
Shellfish Permits are distributed by the town clerk. All permits expire on March 31. Fees are: non-residents for one day, $30; summer non-residents, $20 per week. For information on shellfishing regulations or any other questions, contact the town shellfish constable at 978-948-2508.
