When millions of gallons of sewage overflow spewed into the Merrimack River in late June and early July, the shellfish industry on the North Shore took a big hit.
The state issued a 12-day emergency closure for fisheries in a large part of the North Shore at one of the worst possible times. So, in July, the state announced it was offering $300,000 in relief to harvesters who were impacted by the overflow. At the time, Gov. Maura Healey said that “Massachusetts is proud of the culturally and economically important tradition of shellfishing,” and that the state is “committed to supporting [shellfishers] as they continue to provide food for our families, restaurants and others.”
Today in Essex, Healey delivered checks to several of those who felt the effects of the shutdown. That money is intended to cover the maximum estimated shellfish harvest from the areas impacted by the closure. And it was welcomed by multiple officials when it was announced.
“Ipswich’s clammers were hit especially hard by these emergency closures during what is normally their busiest and most profitable time of year, so this economic relief is deeply appreciated,” said Ipswich Town Manager Brendan Sweeney.
Maureen Woodman is director of catering and sales at Woodman’s of Essex, a seafood restaurant specializing in seafood and clams that hosted Monday’s event with Healey.
The restaurant was still able to secure shellfish during the shutdown, but Woodman said the closure had a very large impact on the shellfish industry and restaurants in the community.
“I also think that the impact was more powerful because of the timing,” Woodman said. “It happened over the Fourth of July weekend, which on the North Shore is an extremely lucrative time for all of the restaurants and retail businesses and fishing industry in the North Shore and as well as Massachusetts.”
A spokesperson for the governor said the vast majority of 130 checks were mailed out this weekend. And Woodman is happy for the attention those in the shellfish industry are receiving.
“I think that I still hold true that I’m really happy that all the fisherman and clam diggers are getting some kind of recognition that their job really matters,” Woodman said. “It does effect the economy, it does effect the community and that the shellfish industry is extremely important for people up here on the North Shore.”
GBH News reached out to the campaign for Healey’s opponent in her upcoming reelection campaign, Republican Mike Minogue. He didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
