Office Telephone: 207-865-4800 | Fax: 207-865-2901
Mailing Address: 16 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
Marine Warden: Tom Kay | tkay@freeportmaine.com
 Shellfish Hotline - 865-2904
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March
1- New Commercial Hours/days
5- Water Samples
8- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
17- Survey/Carters
19- Special Shellfish Meeting- 6:30pm- Town Council Chambers
24- Survey/Carters
April
3- Water Samples
12- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
13- Survey/Carters
14- Survey/Carters
May
1- Town Council Workshop
2- Water Samples
10- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
19- Relay/Carters
20- Relay/Carters
June
14- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
15- New Commercial Hours/days
18- Water Samples
July
10- Water Samples
12- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
August
1- Water Samples
8- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
September
10- Water Samples
15- Shellfish Meeting
October
9- Water Samples
11- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
November
5- Water Samples
8- Shellfish Meeting/FCC
December
4- Water Samples
13- Shellfish Meeting/Library
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For information on any Marine-related closures, call the Freeport Shellfish Hotline at 865-2904. Closure information can also be viewed in the Police Department Lobby during normal business hours (8 am-4 pm) 7 days a week. If you have any other Marine-related questions contact Marine Warden Tom Kay at 865-4800. The State hotline is 1-800-232-4733.
(The hotline is provided as a courtesy to inform harvesters of the status of the Freeport flats. Due to the unpredictable nature of events that cause closures and the fact that they may occur during non-business hours, the hotline may not always reflect recent closures and is not intended to be legally binding. Night shellfish harvesting is prohibited. Night is defined as 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.)
Shellfish Hotline. The status of Freeport clam flats are:
As of: 5-1-2012
Commercial harvesting of softshell clams is allowed town wide when flats are in the open status Monday thru Thursday from 6am to 6pm.
All other species of clams may be harvested 7 days a week if the area is open. Night shellfish harvesting is not allowed. Night is defined as from 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise.
The upper Harraseeket is Closed.
The lower Harraseeket, including Collins Cove, the West shore of Wolf Neck, Powers Mussle Bar, Staples Cove and Spar Cove is closed.
The marina area is that area inside of a line that runs from a red post at the end of the rock wall at the north end of Brewer’s boat yard in an easterly direction to the MDR bouy mid channel by the STP closure line, then in a southwesterly direction to green can “9” channel marker by the rock pile and then in a northwesterly direction to a red post by the boathouse next to the HYC.
As of May 1, 2012, the seasonal closure in the marina area is in effect. Please see the map for growing area 16 posted in the Town Hall, Freeport Public Safety Building, or visit the town web site or DMR’s web site for the legal description.
Flying Point east from the Brunswick town line, including Goose Cove, L.L. Bean, Brick Yard Cove along the eastern shore of Flying Point is open.
Lower Flying Point including Rasberry Cove is open.
Little River north of Burnnet Bridge is closed.
South of the bridge including Recompence shores, Wolfe Neck State Park is open.
From Aldridge point along the southern shore of Winslow park is open.
The swimming area from the end of the boat ramp east to the next point of land is closed seasonally from May 1st to Dec. 1st and is currently closed.
From the end of the boat ramp west to the tip of Fogg’s Point is open.
From Fogg’s Point up the Cousin’s River including Whistler’s Cove is closed.
The areas around the Freeport Islands are open.
Harvesters need to check the hotlines before harvesting as conditions are monitored closely and change quickly.
To read the current approved DMR Closing.Opening Document, Click Here.
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Licenses run from July 1 through June 30 each year and are obtained from the Town Clerk.
COMMERCIAL LICENSES:
for Residential property owners—limited to 45 licenses per year, plus 2 student licenses.
for Non-Residents— limited to 6 licenses per year, plus 1 student license.
Commercial licenses must be renewed each April. They may be retained year-to-year as long as the holders submit their application/annual fee before the deadline and they have no violations and the required conservation credits have been completed.
There are no commercial licenses available at this time.
RECREATIONAL LICENSES:
for Residential property owners - limited to 200 licenses.
for Non-Residents - limited to 20 licenses per year.
Anyone may obtain a 3 day recreational license.
Application period opens up on the first business day in June; first come, first served. The Application period re-opens for non-residents at the end of September.
LICENSE FEES:
* RESIDENT COMMERCIAL $230.00
* NON-RESIDENT COMMERCIAL $430.00
* RESIDENT RECREATIONAL $ 16.00 (includes $5.00 water quality fee)
* NON-RESIDENT RECREATIONAL $ 27.00 (includes $5.00 water quality fee)
* 3 DAY RECREATIONAL $ 20.00 (includes $5.00 water quality fee)
See the Shellfish Ordinance for more details.
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In order to maintain a shellfish license in Freeport, harvesters must participate in conservation work, earning points toward fulfilling the requirement. The document at right gives details for the 2011-2012 season.
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Special Projects call list and signup sheets are available at the Town Clerk's Office. For more information, call the Marine Warden at 865-4800.
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As a sworn, uniformed member of the Freeport Police Department, the Shellfish Warden operates in the same jurisdiction as a Freeport Police Officer and may be called upon to do a variety of local duties. The Warden may also enforce state statues. The Warden has to successfully complete the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Reserve Officer Academy as well as a variety of other training in law enforcement and Marine-related issues.
Tasks of the Warden include: enforcement of Freeport's Municipal Shellfish Ordinance, the constant water testing of Freeport's tidal areas in conjunction with the Department of Marine Resources, opening and closing of shellfish harvest areas, checking the size of harvested shellfish, checking licenses of harvesters, assisting in search and rescue operations with the Coast Guard and Freeport Harbormaster and working with the Freeport Shellfish Commission in conservation efforts.
The Marine Warden can also enforce local, state and federal boating laws as well as a multitude of environmental and marine fisheries laws.
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Under Maine State law, any clams harvested from the flats of Maine must be at least 2 inches in total length.
A municipal shellfish license is needed to harvest clams in any location in Freeport with the exception of Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. Any person can dig up to 1 peck of clams (for personal use only) per person, per day without a municipal license from Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. Harvest in this area is still regulated under the 2-inch law for soft shell clams and 1" quahogs. Harvest must be done in a location that is open for harvest.
Shellfish harvesting at night is prohibited in the Town of Freeport under local ordinance.
If you suspect any shellfish poaching please contact the Freeport Police Department at 865-4800 or you can leave an anonymous tip on the Police Department web page, http://www.freeportmaine.com/submit.anonymous_tip.php
Any person that harvests to sell must have a valid State of Maine Commercial Shellfish license. At the time clams are landed for transport, the shellfish must be tagged with owner information. These tags must accompany the shellfish in all points of transportation. Every container of shellfish must have a tag with this information.
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May I dig clams in Freeport without a town license?
Yes, any person may dig up to 1 peck of clams for their own personal use (not to sell commercially) only in Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park without a license. Soft shell clams are governed under the two inch law with an allowable tolerance of 10%, while quahogs must be 1 inch at the hinge and a zero tolerance applies.
What is the 2-inch law?
Any harvested clams in the state of Maine must be 2 inches in length (end to end not counting the neck of the clam that sticks out between the two half shells). There is a 10% tolerance allowed before a digger can be summons for possession of short clams.
How do I obtain a Shellfish license in the Town of Freeport?
The licenses are issued by the Town Clerk. A digger may retain a commercial license once it is secured, as long as the person keeps renewing the license and doesn't violate the municipal shellfish ordinance, and completes the required conservation work. If a commercial license becomes available, a lottery will usually be held for the license. The Town Clerk can answer more questions about obtaining a license.
How do I know what areas are open for clamming?
The Shellfish Hotline is always kept up-to-date on current closure information. If you are not familiar with the geographic information or the local names of places in town, there are maps posted in the lobby of the Police Department and the Town Hall for the closures. If that still leaves doubt, contact the Warden through the police department at 865-4800 and he will assist you in finding the areas closed.
Why are areas closed for shellfish harvesting?
There are several different types of closures associated with harvesting clams. There are closures for pollution and closures for conservation efforts. Pollution closures include such things as excessive rainfall (runoff from the land carrying toxins into the water), closures for Sewer Treatment areas (outflow areas), Red Tide Closures and seasonal closures (as with seasonal Marina areas). There are also closures for conservation efforts such as closures in newly seeded areas.
What is the number for the Shellfish Hotline?
865-2904. The warden's voice mail can also be obtained through this number. His extension is 139. You can also leave a message by calling the police department at 865-4800. The State Hotline is 1-800-232-4733.
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