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In accordance with Chapter 130, section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Division of Marine Fisheries has determined that Apponagansett Bay (BB12) in the Town of Dartmouth no longer meets the established water quality criteria for the harvest of shellfish due to unacceptable water quality.
Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 74A and 75, the status of the entire area has been changed to “CLOSED TO SHELLFISHING”. Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish from the entire area is prohibited as of sunrise on September 22, 2016
Under authority of 322 CMR 7.01 (7) all permits issued thereunder are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish from the identified area.
NO SHELLFISHING ACTIVITY ANYWHERE IN APPONAGANSETT BAY/PADANARAM HARBOR UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FROM STATE D.M.F.

August 31, 2016 ~ MarineFisheries Advisory

2016 Commercial Black Sea Bass Fishery Closed
Effective September 5, 2016

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You can view our most current Mooring Waitlist which was updated on August 27, 2016 here.

August 19, 2016
MarineFisheries Advisory

2016 Commercial Striped Bass Fishery Closed
Effective August 19, 2016

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The presence of large areas of reddish, brown water have been detected throughout Buzzards Bay, including Dartmouth. The abundance of cochlodinium algae in our warm, shallow waters has created the condition known as "rusty tide." This is not the same harmful condition that is commonly called "red tide." Water samples were collected by our staff and analyzed on August 9, 2016 by the Division of Marine Fisheries. These samples confirmed the presence of cochlodinium algae in the 80 degree Fahrenheit waters of south Padanaram Harbor. Exceedingly warm water temperatures and increased nitrogen contribute to this type of algae bloom.

According to biologists from the Division of Marine Fisheries, the current concentration of cochlodinium algae is not harmful to swimmers or shellfish, however it may accumulate in the gills of fish, deplete the amount of oxygen available in the water column, and possibly lead to fish kills. Marine Fisheries and the Harbormaster Staff will continue to monitor the water quality and advise the public.

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The north side of Apponagansett Bay (Upper Padanaram Harbor) is seasonally closed from June 1st to November 1st each year by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Within the north side is a one acre site (outlined on the map above) which will remain closed until the fall of 2018. This area, from the Pier at the Arthur F. Dias landing to the band-shell at Apponagansett Point, has been seeded with contaminated quahog stock relayed from the Taunton River.

This one-acre contaminated relay area must not be entered or harvested from when the remaining other north side areas open this fall. The contaminated relay area must remain closed to harvesting until the fall of 2017 by which time these quahogs will have purified themselves of any contaminants and had the opportunity to reproduce in our waters.

State Law prohibits harvesting in a contaminated closed area, making it an arrestable felony for anyone caught in the prohibited area. Enforcement by local authorities and State Environmental Police will be heightened during this specific closure.

See map here.

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The 2016 seasonal openings of the Padanaram Bridge will begin on May 1, the Department of Public Works announced.
From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., the bridge will open on the hour and half hour. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the bridge will open on the hour. And from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the bridge will open on the hour and half hour.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Assistant Supervisor of Services and Infrastructure Roy Pinheiro at 508-999-0744.

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England
MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN MSIB # 14-15

PROPOSED CHANGES TO FEDERAL AIDS-TO-NAVIGATION
in Southeastern Massachusetts Waterways

Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England proposes to make some modest changes in the aids-to-navigation (ATON) system in the waterways of southeastern Massachusetts. We carefully evaluated these reasonably limited measures that will maintain or improve navigation safety while increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of our overall ATON program.

Of the nearly 500 aids to navigation in southeastern Massachusetts, this plan will affect 26 that our analysis suggests provides only limited benefit, if any at all, to the average mariner that normally uses the waterway which the aids mark. These aids typically consume Coast Guard (and taxpayer) resources that far exceed any navigation safety benefit delivered to the boating public.

Of the 26 affected aids, 14 that provide very limited or no additional navigation safety have been identified for removal. The remaining 12 aids are in waters seldom used by boaters during the winter and have been identified for designation as “seasonal” aids that will be removed during the winter months and replaced in the summer months with fully functional but less expensive foam buoys, a practice that has been implemented in this region and elsewhere throughout the country with great success.

Our proposed changes to the aids-to-navigation system in some waterways within southeastern Massachusetts are listed in the attached spreadsheet. Your feedback is welcome and should be provided to Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc at 401-435-2351, or Edward.G.LeBlanc@uscg.mil by October 1, 2015. We will carefully consider all comments submitted and adjust our proposal if warranted. Only then will we begin to make on-the-water changes to aids to navigation, and in no case would any of these changes take place before November 1, 2015.

**Harbormaster Note: The 2 federal aids to navigation to be discontinued and removed from Dartmouth waters are the Keel Rock Buoy #3 (USCG Light List #16750) and Padanaram Harbor Buoy #10 (USCG Light List #16771). If you have any comments, direct them as indicated above, to Mr. LeBlanc.