The New England shellfish industry faces the threat of widespread red tide outbreaks this spring and summer that could force hundreds of miles of clam flats to be closed and lead to clam shortages.
A survey of the ocean bottom off New England last fall provides evidence there will be a significant bloom of the toxic algae that causes red tide, federal and state officials said Wednesday. This year’s bloom could be similar to those of 2005 and 2008 that shut down shellfish beds from Maine to Cape Cod for months.
Red tide has become more frequent and severe in recent years, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in economic losses. With more red tide being forecast, the outlook is bleak for clam diggers who have had to contend with major outbreaks in three of the past five years.
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