Massachusetts South Coast oyster growers say rain-triggered sewage closures are squeezing finances. West Island Oysters co-owner Dale Leavitt says one Nasketucket Bay farm has been lost and another may soon be lost; possible sewage releases can trigger 21-day shutdowns.
Combined sewer overflows from New Bedford pipes may carry fecal bacteria into shellfish beds. The state can test oysters after a week and reopen an area if conditions are safe, but further storms can bring more closures. Marion Institute executive director Liz Wiley argues the federal 21-day rule lacks research support and says test results should determine whether a closure is warranted.
Massachusetts farms produce roughly 54 million oysters annually. State shellfish supervisor Matt Camisa is collecting water samples during storms to model bacterial concentrations. New Bedford had cut combined sewer overflows by 94% from 1990 levels by 2016, but further reductions were estimated to cost $1.2 billion; a Beacon Hill bill would create a South Coast wastewater financing commission to help fund them.
