"gloria.p" wrote:
>
> On 12/15/2011 11:00 AM, Gary wrote:
>
> >
> > Commercial fishermen tong in the deep water beds, but the ones near shore
> > are available to anyone that's willing to go for them. That's me! :-D
> >
> >
>
> Depending on the nearby community onshore, shallow water shellfish can
> be loaded with harmful bacteria. We used to rake for clams and scallops
> in thigh-high water and catch fluke and flounder in shallow salt water
> ponds 25+ years ago. I wouldn't consider it today. There are way too
> many shorelines affected by wastewater outflow, and too many old and
> uninspected/unpermitted septic systems.

Shallow water doesn't matter but you are right.... many areas have pollution
issues with shellfish.

The area that I can still get oysters and clams has been closed down for
over 20 years due to pollution and risk of disease.

Just a few years ago, they opened this bay back up to commercial fishing.
Needless to say though, now that it's ok again, we've got 20 years of
shellfish to harvest that have grown very big in the illegal years.

They are safe now and I can get free ones very quickly.

Gary

PS - I still cook them though...a bit safer than eating raw ones.