A week after debris from the broken Vineyard Wind turbine washed up on Edgartown beaches, state officials said they are investigating potential harm to the region’s seafood but don’t see a need to immediately stop eating shellfish.
Though often taking a backseat to quahaugs, scallops and oysters, the softshell clam fishery was once a valuable economic engine for a select group of local shellfishermen.
In order to comply with revised state and federal shellfish sanitation rules, the anchorage area along the pond’s boundary with Oak Bluffs has been expanded to about 50 acres. The area will be closed to all shellfishing from April through October.