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Visit The Maine Shellfish Handbook

The Maine Shellfish Handbook

Provides a comprehensive resource to help managers at the local and state level sustain Maine’s valuable shellfish resources. Includes information on the history and biology of the soft-shell clam, northern quahog, American and European oysters, and blue mussels. There are sections on state resources to address water quality issues and predatory species and tools that municipalities can use to preserve or increase their intertidal shellfish resources.
PDF 2021
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health, Maine Sea Grant
Visit Bird Interactions with Shellfish Aquaculture

Bird Interactions with Shellfish Aquaculture

There are several ways in which birds interact with shellfish aquaculture. Birds can cause significant damage to crops through predation. Some birds fall into the category of protected resources and farmers have been variously accused of interfering with foraging, (either attracting or disturbing or both) and interfering with hunting. Birds can be attracted to aquaculture structures for roosting or foraging and their guano can impact water quality and trigger the need for growers to develop management plans under the National Shellfish Sanitation Plan.
PDF 2021
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit DMR Vibrio Control Plan Requirements – Guidance Document

DMR Vibrio Control Plan Requirements – Guidance Document

The goal of a Vibrio Control or Vibrio Management Plan is to control the safety of molluscan shellfish for human consumption by preventing unnecessary growth of bacterial pathogens resulting from improper or ineffective cooling or from time to temperature abuse.
PDF 2021
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit DMR Shellfish Time and Temperature Guidance Document

DMR Shellfish Time and Temperature Guidance Document

The goal of these new requirements is to control the safety of molluscan shellfish for human consumption by preventing unnecessary growth of bacterial pathogens resulting from improper or ineffective cooling or from time to temperature abuse.
PDF 2021
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Aquaculture Education: Shellfish Sanitation

Aquaculture Education: Shellfish Sanitation

DMR Bureau of Public Health PowerPoint on shellfish and public health, National Shellfish Sanitation Program, Growing Area Classifications, Marine Sanitation Devices, Legal Notice for Pollution Closures, Closure Notifications, Emergency Closures, marine biotoxins, Biotoxin Sample Processing, High Risk Species, Biotoxin Illnesses, Vibrio bacteria, Control Plans, Best Management Practices, Shellfish Tags, Licensing to Harvest, Allowable sales, Winter Storage on Land, and Seaweed.
PowerPoint 2021
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Case Study

Things to Be Aware of From a Shellfish Sanitation Perspective

This document was generated by DMR Bureau of Public Health staff and reflects things to be aware of when considering an aquaculture lease application from a shellfish sanitation perspective.

Maine Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Public Health
2020
Visit Shellfish Dealer Application Forms

Shellfish Dealer Application Forms

DMR shellfish dealer licenses and sanitation certificates application forms.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Maine Enhanced Retail License Holders

Maine Enhanced Retail License Holders

List that contains the names and addresses of markets and restaurants that are licensed to purchase shellfish directly from harvesters, then sell them in the retail trade only.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Biotoxins in Maine

Biotoxins in Maine

Reviews the types of harmful phytoplankton that produce biotoxins such as Alexandrium, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning; Pseudo-nitzschia, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning; and Dinophysis, which causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List

Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List

List all interstate certified shippers that can ship fresh and frozen oysters, clams, mussels, whole or roe-on scallops and is published monthly.
Website 2020
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Visit Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus)

Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus)

In depth review of sea scallop biology, spat collection, nursery, grow out, gear, husbandry, site selection economic considerations and biotoxins/public health.
PDF 2020
Coastal Enterprises, Inc
Visit Maine Biotoxin and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline

Maine Biotoxin and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline

This system is provided to allow public access to recent changes in shellfish closures.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview

Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview

An overview of oyster production techniques including nursery and husbandry, common gear used, and oyster biology.
PDF 2020
Maine Sea Grant
Visit Maine Certified Shellfish Dealers

Maine Certified Shellfish Dealers

Lists dealers that are certified under the NSSP to ship, or process shellfish for shipment, within and outside of the state of Maine.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Maine DMR Vibrio Education

Maine DMR Vibrio Education

Vibrios are naturally occurring bacteria typically found in marine waters. Research indicates the growth rates of Vibrio parahemolyticus (Vp) within harvested bivalves are determined by temperature; at 90°F the Vibrio population will double every hour, but below 50 the growth of Vp essentially stops. The best way to keep bivalve shellfish safe from Vibrio contamination is by observing temperature controls including cooling product as quickly as possible after harvest.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)

National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)

A federal/state cooperative program recognized by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) for the sanitary control of shellfish produced and sold for human consumption.
Website 2020
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Visit US Army Corps of Engineers General Permit Documents

US Army Corps of Engineers General Permit Documents

A general permit for activities subject to Corps jurisdiction in waters of the U.S. within the boundaries of the State of Maine.
Website 2020
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Visit Shellfish Sanitation and Management

Shellfish Sanitation and Management

The Bureau of Public Health oversees the the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) within Maine in order to keep molluscan shellfish safe for human consumption.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Current Shellfish Closure Information

Current Shellfish Closure Information

Biotoxin and shellfish sanitation hotline, bacterial closures, and biotoxin closures.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

Uses the standards outlined in the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) to monitor levels of PSP (“Red Tide”) and other marine biotoxins in the shellfish of the State of Maine.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Shellfish Water Quality Classification Map and Data Portal

Shellfish Water Quality Classification Map and Data Portal

This version of the DMR ArcMap has filters turned on for P90 Scores 2019, current municipal conservation closures, and current NSSP classifications.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms

Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms

Lists all forms involved with sanitation and the HACCP guidelines including vibrio control plans, wet storage, daily sanitation reports, a processing log with sales records, shipping temperature compliance, and more.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit DMR Municipal Shellfish Management Forms

DMR Municipal Shellfish Management Forms

Lists all forms involved with the annual shellfish management review and forms for municipal activities such as shellfish program deadlines.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health
Visit Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols

Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols

List of all forms including volunteer quality assurance training, training checklist, application and liability waiver, water sampling field data sheet, and a data sheet for GPS coordinates.
Website 2020
Maine DMR Bureau of Public Health

Resources Database

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The Maine Shellfish Handbook

Bird Interactions with Shellfish Aquaculture

DMR Vibrio Control Plan Requirements – Guidance Document

DMR Shellfish Time and Temperature Guidance Document

Aquaculture Education: Shellfish Sanitation

Things to Be Aware of From a Shellfish Sanitation Perspective

Shellfish Dealer Application Forms

Maine Enhanced Retail License Holders

Biotoxins in Maine

Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List

Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus)

Maine Biotoxin and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline

Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview

Maine Certified Shellfish Dealers

Maine DMR Vibrio Education

National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)

US Army Corps of Engineers General Permit Documents

Shellfish Sanitation and Management

Current Shellfish Closure Information

Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

Shellfish Water Quality Classification Map and Data Portal

Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms

DMR Municipal Shellfish Management Forms

Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols

Filters

Species

Key Ideas

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Results

The Maine Shellfish Handbook

Bird Interactions with Shellfish Aquaculture

DMR Vibrio Control Plan Requirements – Guidance Document

DMR Shellfish Time and Temperature Guidance Document

Aquaculture Education: Shellfish Sanitation

Things to Be Aware of From a Shellfish Sanitation Perspective

Shellfish Dealer Application Forms

Maine Enhanced Retail License Holders

Biotoxins in Maine

Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List

Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus)

Maine Biotoxin and Shellfish Sanitation Hotline

Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview

Maine Certified Shellfish Dealers

Maine DMR Vibrio Education

National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)

US Army Corps of Engineers General Permit Documents

Shellfish Sanitation and Management

Current Shellfish Closure Information

Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

Shellfish Water Quality Classification Map and Data Portal

Maine Shellfish Dealer Sanitation and HACCP Guidelines Manual and Forms

DMR Municipal Shellfish Management Forms

Water Quality Monitoring Forms and Protocols