Shellfish Department

Responsibilities

The Shellfish Department is responsible for monitoring Gloucester shellfish harvesting areas and enforcing both Gloucester shellfishing regulations and State of Massachusetts laws in order to conserve and protect the city’s shellfish resources and promote public health.

Permits & Other Documents

All permits are issued by the City Clerk’s office at City Hall. For office hours, please call (978) 281-9720. Be sure to view the Shellfish Resource Packet (PDF). Also, Color-Coded Map (PDF), regulations, and ordinances can be also obtained at the City Clerk’s office. For more information please contact the Shellfish Department hotline at (978) 325-5248.

Types of Permits & Fees

All permits expire on June 30 of each year.

Permit TypeFee
Non-resident, non-commercial clam and seaworm (annual)

$200

Non-resident, non-commercial clam (one day)

$25

Resident, commercial clam and seaworm

$400

Resident, commercial clam (full-time student)

$200

Resident, commercial eel

$50

Resident, commercial or non-commercial (senior 70+ years)

Free

Resident, commercial seaworm only

$70

Resident, non-commercial clam and seaworm

$50