Meetings: 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:00PM, Police Station Community Room
History: The Town of Clinton’s Shellfish Commission was awarded a grant by the State of Connecticut in 2006 for its shellfish restoration plan and has been actively working since then to restore shellfish populations. Success is evident by the oysters that you can now see thriving on shells, rocks and bulkheads throughout the harbor, particularly noticeable during low tide.
To end the State’s ban on recreational shellfishing in Clinton, the Commission worked closely with the CT Dept of Agriculture’s Bureau of Aquaculture for the past 14 years performing water quality testing, shellfish bed restoration, and reseeding of key areas in Clinton Harbor and its tidal estuaries. As of April 1, 2019, Clinton has one conditionally approved recreational shellfishing area, located in the Outer Harbor (see map). Conditionally approved means that it is open seasonally, and may be closed after a significant rain or pollution event.
Purpose: The Shellfish Commission shall be charged with the duty and purpose of managing and being in charge of all of the shell fisheries and shellfish grounds lying within the Town of Clinton not granted to others and not under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Agriculture, including all rivers, inland waters and flats adjacent to all beaches and waters within the limits and bounds of the municipality of the Town Of Clinton.
Responsibilities: The powers and duties of the Shellfish Commission shall be exercised and performed herein provided and as authorized by the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. In addition, the Clinton Shellfish Commission may Issue licenses for the taking of shellfish within its jurisdiction and fix the fees, may designate the quantities of shellfish to be taken, the sizes of such shellfish and the methods of taking shellfish. The Commission may specify the seasons and hours of taking shellfish and may prohibit the taking of shellfish from certain designated areas for periods of time. The Shellfish Commission shall further have the power to create a shellfish management plan and may issue reasonable rules and regulations to further the protection and propagation of the shellfish under its control and the grounds in its jurisdiction.
All fees and monies collected by the Commission pursuant to this article and pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes shall be paid to the Commission and used by the Commission for the protection and propagation of shellfish under its control and the further management of the shellfish grounds. The Commission shall have the power to direct the shellfish wardens as enforcement officers to supervise the beds and enforce the regulations issued by the Commission and those of the State of Connecticut. The Commission may further set penalties for violation of its regulations subject to the restrictions therein as provided in Section 26-257a of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended. The Commission members shall also be sworn in as Special Shellfish Constables for the same term and shall also have the such powers and duties as are specified in Section 26-277 of the Connecticut State Statutes, as amended.
Press
- Clinton Beach open for shellfishing after 35-year hiatusCLINTON — With Long Island Sound’s temperature hovering around 50 degrees, a few hardy souls layered up, grabbed their shellfishing gear and headed to the Clinton Beach to fill their buckets with freshly-dug clams and oysters. “It’s a beautiful day because this is the second day that I’m out here clamming ...read more...