The third year of Clinton’s reopened shellfish beds is off to a good start with the possibility of more good news to come, according to Shellfish Commission Chair Wayne Church.

Clinton’s shellfish beds reopened in 2019 after years of being closed, and since then shellfishing has remained a popular activity in Clinton.

“We’ve seen a very big response,” Church said.

Shellfishing is allowed near Clinton Town Beach from Dec. 1 through mid-May in two areas totaling 220 acres. In mid-May, shellfishing will be allowed in a 175-acre section known as Area B, which is located along the beach but away from the swimming area. That area, located out of the way of swim and boat traffic to allow for a safe experience in the summer months when the beach is more popular, is open until August.

If the town has a rainfall event of more than one inch, the beds will be temporarily closed as part of the agreement with the state. The Clinton Shellfish Commission Facebook page has updates on the beds and the status of the beds.

When the world shut down in 2020, people were forced to find new hobbies and, according to Church, shell fishing became one for a lot of people.

“It’s a really close community that’s out here. Everyone knows each other,” said Church.

Clinton’s shellfish beds were once the source of regionally famous oysters, but then the oysters began succumbing to disease. Pollution also affected the beds’ ability to grow edible shellfish and so they were closed decades ago.

In 2004, the town began a concerted effort to reopen the beds, but those efforts were dealt serious setbacks by Tropical Storm Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

As part of the process of opening the beds, periodic water and oyster samples were required to be sent to the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture (DABA). In September 2018, DABA representatives presented the results of the surveys that cleared the way for the beds to open in 2019.

Church said that more good news could be on the way soon for shellfish enthusiasts. Church said that further negotiating is still being done with the state to see if new beds off of Shore Road could open to the public soon.

Beyond the possible new beds, Church said a trailer will be placed at the beach thanks to help from the Department of Public Works and Parks & Recreation Department. That trailer will house displays for the public, educating them on the history and importance of shellfishing.

Additionally, Church said the commission hopes to be stepping up its educational outreach, thanks in part to the fees collected from shellfish licenses.

“We saw a huge response from people and all the money from license fees goes back to shellfishing and environmental programs,” said Church.

Church said the commission has been working with classes at The Morgan School, an eagle scout, and local people to do projects on items like the history of shellfishing in Clinton, population assessments, and reminding the public how their actions can affect the beach and water quality the town enjoys.

“We want to remind people they live in a great shoreline town and they have a responsibility to keep it clean,” Church said, adding that hopefully people will think twice before dumping something down a storm drain or littering in a catch basin.

Church said that the possibility of doing celebrations like a shellfishing day or more public celebrations were also being pursed. The beds will also be reseeded this year.

Shellfish licenses are available for sale on clintonshellfish.org, the Town Clerk’s Office, as well as at the Dock Master’s Office at the Town Marina. More information on licenses, fees, and times can be found at clintonshellfish.org.