Updated July 6 at 10:15 a.m.
Due to Monday and Tuesday’s heavy rainfall, Sengekontacket Pond is closed to all shellfishing. The pond will re-open at 7 a.m. on Monday, July 11, Edgartown Shellfish Constable Paul Bagnall said. The current closure was originally scheduled until July 10, but heavy rain on July 5 pushed the re-opening back one day.
Under an agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), shellfish wardens are required to close the pond to shellfishing in July when rainfall exceeds 0.2 inches. In August, the standard is more lenient: the pond must be closed when rainfall exceeds one inch. In each case, the pond must remain closed to shellfishing for a minimum of five days.
Information about Sengekontacket closings and reopenings is available on the Oak Bluffs web site, by calling the Oak Bluffs Shellfish Department (508) 693-0072, or the Edgartown Shellfish Department (508-627-7570).
When the small red flag is flying at either Little Bridge or Big Bridge, the pond is closed to shellfishing.
Correction – due to an error on a Shellfish Department press release, The Times initially reported that the closure was until Sunday, July 17.
