In order to harvest clams in Maine, you need to obtain a license from the Department of Marine Resources. If youre looking to find clams, make sure you know where the tide is. Licenses can also be obtained by completing and mailing in the application form (PDF). See theShellfish Ordinancefor more details. Shellfish Season: The State of Maine has opened the clam flats in Biddeford for year-round harvesting from June 1st to May 31st. The license is good for one year period beginning the first Monday in April. Clams should not be kept sealed in plastic or covered with tape. 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. Bar Harbor Shellfishing & Clamming. Clamming is a popular activity among tourists and locals alike, and can be done from the shore or from a boat. 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! For Freeport residents of 12 months or more & Freeport property owners- limited to 180 licenses. A maximum of 10 gaper clams may be kept; however, dug clams regardless of size or condition must be kept until they reach the limit. I witnessed all the Cutler traditions of the 4th, some of which included crate races, a parade (which I ended up riding in! Shellfish Conservation Commission | Falmouth ME In the Damariscotta River, Sheepscot River, and New Meadows Lakes; there is a Vibrio Control Plan in place that closes recreational harvest from May 1st to October 31st each year. Freeport, ME Many towns require recreational licenses which can be obtained through the town office or municipal shellfish warden. Phone: 207-571-0700, Town Hall, 93 Cottage Street Fifth, you will need a coolers to keep the clams alive and fresh. The purpose is to work towards eliminating predators that are destroying the soft shell clams. Without a license, you could be fined up to $500. The Maine Shellfish Sanitation Hotline number is 800-232-4733. Phone: 207-833-5822, Freeport Town Hall, 30 Main Street You will only damage them if you do not force them open. A non-resident between 18 and 24 enrolled full-time in a college in Maine may be eligible for a resident rate license for fishing, hunting, & trapping. Definition. The American oyster is native to the east coast of North America. Clam digging is a popular sport on the East Coast. Knowledgeable chamber staff will help you discover your fresh-harvested seafood supper experience of a lifetime. The annual permit fee for residents is $10; the application fee shall serve as the permit fee for residents if a resident mooring permit is granted. There is no permit required to dig for clams in Maine. Licenses - Official Website of the Town of Yarmouth, Maine License allocation: (68 Left) - Adult Resident- $15.00 Clamming License | St. George , ME 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. You simply need knowledge and a low-cost license to start working with them. They live burrowed into the sand beneath the turbulent waves of the surf breaker zone. Fees for licenses apply only to soft shell clams. Other species of shellfish do not require a license for recreational harvest. If you want to get a little more out of your clams, you can buy a variety of licenses. Day passes are also available in the Town Clerk's Office. Their spouse and any dependent children residing with them are also entitled todiscounted rates. Nonresident Commercial Shellfish License Fee: $402.00 For rules and regulations please visit here Recreational Shellfish License You should contact your local community to find out when the best time to dig is. Fees listed do not include the agent fee. Once established and growing, it stays permanently attached to the same site for the rest of its life. There also is a one-day recreational shellfishing license. Box 875. Licenses are issued annually July 1 and are valid through June 30. The fees for licenses and the enforcement of the shellfish ordinance for the Town of Bar Harbor only apply to the taking of soft shell clams (steamers),Mya arenaria. Soft shelled clams are regulated by DMR and coastal towns with a shellfish conservation ordinance. 4-inch minimum size measured along the longest axis. Recreational Licenses . I love being a child again, up to the elbows and ankles in mud. Anyone may obtain a 3 day recreational license. Video Description: I took a trip up to Cutler, Maine for this past years 4th of July weekend and frantically tried to swallow up as much of the atmosphere as possible. Licensing events are held between June 1 and May 31 in the United States. Anglers harvesting hard clams prefer to use a purpose-built rake or fork with high visibility to gain a better view of the species. Mussels can be harvested all year and are regulated by DMR only, they are not regulated by towns and recreational licenses are not required. Phone: 207-725-6658, City Clerk, City Hall, 205 Main Street A valid Maine fishing license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older, to fish in inland waters or transport fish taken from inland waters. Many towns require a recreational license which can be obtained through the town office or municipal shellfish warden. Fees are waived for Bar Harbor residents under 16 and over 65 years old. 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. Digging Clams in Downeast Maine - Where to dig, licenses The fee for a commercial shellfish license for applicants 70 years of age or older and applicants under 18 years of age is $67, which must be deposited in the Shellfish Fund established under section 6651 . Non-resident licenses are picked by lottery at a rate of one for every ten resident licenses sold. Anglers who do not live in Maine and use a rod, reel, or trap as bait must obtain a saltwater fishing permit. A permit is also required in order to dig for clams in Maine. It is unlawful to dig or take soft-shelled clams from flats located in Bar Harbor without a shellfish license issued by the town. Clamming is permitted at some state parks in Maine, but with a permit. The Town of Harpswell, in conjunction with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, manages its intertidal shellfish resources under the Municipal Shellfish Management Program as described in M.R.S Title 12, §6671. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. 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 License fees are non-refundable. Minimum Clam Size = 2 INCHES Maximum amount of clams per license per day: 1 PECK (1 peck = bushel = 2 gallons = 8 quarts. Maine Resident Military Currently Stationed Anywhere:Residents who are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and permanently stationed outside of Maine may purchase either a hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination hunting and fishing license for the Maine Resident Serviceman combination price upon verification that Maine is their home of record and that they are permanently stationed outside of Maine. Anyone may obtain a 3 day recreational license. The blue mussel is a common native bivalve mollusk that lives from the intertidal zone to depths of several hundred feet and is found frequently clinging to the rocky shoreline. All other laws and regulations apply on these days. Anchor & Hope SF was created with the goal of providing people with accurate and reliable information about seafood. This subsection does not authorize the person accompanying and assisting the licensee to assist that licensee with more than one fishing rod and reel. Hinge width is measured at the thickest part of the clam near where the shells are joined together. We want to help people learn more about seafood so that they can make informed decisions about what to eat. Renew New Fees Commercial Shellfish A $133 Comm. Town Hall, 93 Cottage Street Bar Harbor, ME Phone: 207-288-5571 A shellfish license is required to take shellfish from flats located in Bar Harbor. To learn more about clam digging past and present, check out the Downeast Fisheries Trail. Town clerks or shellfish wardens can tell you the local rules. Anglers of all skill levels must have a saltwater fishing license, regardless of whether they are using a rod, reel, or trap. Because a giant clam can live for more than 100 years, you should consider putting one in a warm, safe place. You can then apply for a clamming license through the Maine Department of Marine Resources. After a few minutes on a falling tide, youll have a delicious meal. 2023 Parking Information (Fees, Hours, Interactive Map) Parking Passes. Clamming - Acadia National Park Forum - Tripadvisor Title 12, 6601: Commercial shellfish license Home Fishing & Boating Fishing Laws & Rules License Requirements and Fees. European Oysters are characterized by their rounder, flatter shell. Shellfish and Snail Identification and Recreational Limits Shellfish recreational limits: The one peck per day limit is for a combined total regardless of species harvested. Maine in Bloom: Experience a Variety of Maritime Gardens, Maines Maritime Museums: Troves of Treasures to Explore, Road Trip: Exploring Lighthouses in Maine. The map can be accessed here: Although we attempt to keep all the information on the town's website up to date and as accurate as possible, there are situations where emergency closures are imposed due to Red Tide and heavy rainfall. Im digging for clams to steam for tonights supper on the beachalthough you dont have to dig in the mud with your bare hands, like I do! Check all licenses requested and indicate whether it is a renewal or new license. All flats bordering the Wolfs Neck State Park are under the jurisdiction of the Freeport Shellfish Conservation Ordinance. Note: Not all town clerks issue nonresident licenses. SHELLFISH | townofdeerisle 2 1/2 inch minimum size measured along the longest axis.