The Division of Marine Fisheries has extended the closure of an area of northeast Cape Poge Bay to conch pot and fish fishing. No fish pot or conch pot gear may be set in this area until further notice. The closed area includes all waters east of -70.643° W longitude and north of 41.401° N latitude.
Cape Poge Bay was used as a test bombing site during World War II. Unexploded munitions present a public health and safety concern. By closing this area to fish and conch pot fishing, the Army Corps of Engineers will be able to continue work to identify and remove these munitions from the bay’s shallow waters. These live munitions tend to be submerged beneath the sand bottom, and require the use of underwater sensors to identify. They are removed by divers. The presence of fixed fishing gear in the area interferes with the operation of the underwater sensor being used to detect the munitions.
For more information contact Deputy Director Dan McKiernan at 617 626-1536, or dan.mckiernan@state.ma.us.
