Scallops Available In West Falmouth

FALMOUTH- The scallop season has started out very well in West Falmouth Harbor this year.
Falmouth Shellfish Warden R. Charles Martinsen III said when the season opened last Wednesday, shellfishermen were able to get about a bushel of scallops in an hour.
If the harvest is compared to four or five years, ago, Mr. Martinsen said, it is much improved. Back then, it took about three or four hours to harvest a bushel.
A total of about 80 to 90 bushels were harvested from West Falmouth Harbor last Wednesday, Mr. Martinsen said. Those shellfishing were mostly recreational permit holders, he said.
Commercial shellfishermen were able to take one bushel per day until today Oct10 and beginning tomorrow, they can take five bushels per day.
Recreational shellfishermen are allowed one bushel per week.
Mr. Martinsen said scallops are the only kind of shellfish that can be harvested from what are technically considered contaminated areas, like West Falmouth Harbor, because the “abductor” muscle on the scallop is eaten instead of the stomach, which is eaten in other shellfish. Because of the heavy rains in recent weeks, the remainder of the town was closed to shellfishing other than scalloping last week, though areas were all opened back up on Monday.
For up-to-date information on shellfishing, call the Falmouth shellfish hotline at 508-495-7334.