|
General
Information
| Office
Telephone: |
207-865-4800 |
Freeport Shellfish Hotline:
State Shellfish Hotline:
|
207-865-2904
1-800-232-4733
|
| Emergency Telephone: |
9-1-1 |
| Fax: |
207-865-2901 |
| Mailing
address: |
16 Main St.,
Freeport, Maine 04032 |
| Shellfish Warden: |
Tom Kay
|
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Freeport Shellfish Hotline (information
on Marine Related closures): 865-2904
For information on any Marine Related closures call the
Freeport Shellfish Hotline at 865-2904. This hotline has up to date
information on all closures in the Town of Freeport. Closure
information can also be viewed in the Police Department Lobby 24 hrs a
day, 7 days a week. If you have any other Marine Related questions
contact Marine Warden Tom Kay at 865-4800. The State hotline is
1-800-232-4733.
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Duties of the Shellfish Warden:
As a sworn uniformed member of the Police Department,
the Shellfish Warden operates in the same jurisdiction as a Freeport
Police Officer and may be called upon to do a variety of different
duties. The Warden is a sworn Police Officer of the Freeport Police
Department and may enforce state statues. The Warden has to
successfully complete the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Reserve
Officer Academy as well as a variety of other training in law
enforcement and Marine related issues.
Tasks of the Warden include: enforcement of Freeport's
Municipal Shellfish Ordinance, the constant water testing of Freeport's
tidal areas in conjunction with the Department of Marine Resources,
opening and closing of shellfish harvest areas, checking the size of
harvested shellfish, checking licenses of harvesters, assisting in
search and rescue operations with the Coast Guard and Freeport
Harbormaster and working with the Freeport Shellfish Commission in any
conservation efforts.
The Shellfish Warden can also enforce local, state and
federal boating laws as well as a multitude of environmental and marine
fisheries laws.
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Common Law Violations:
Under Maine State law, any clams harvested from the
flats of Maine must be at least 2 inches in total length.
A municipal shellfish license is needed to harvest
clams in any location in Freeport with the exception of Wolfe's Neck
Woods State Park. Any person can dig up to 1 peck of clams (for
personal use only) per person, per day without a municipal license from
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. Harvest in this area is still regulated
under the 2-inch law and harvest must be done in a location that is
open for harvest.
Shellfish harvesting at night is prohibited in the Town
of Freeport under local ordinance.
If you suspect any shellfish poaching please contact
the Freeport Police Department at 865-4800 or you can leave an
anonymous tip on the Police Department web page, http://www.freeportmaine.com/police/tipform.html
Any person that harvests more than 2 pecks of shellfish
or who plans to sell shellfish must have a valid State of Maine
Commercial Shellfish license. At the time that 2 or more pecks of clams
are landed for transport, the shellfish must be tagged with owner
information. These tags must accompany the shellfish in all points of
transportation. Every container of shellfish must have a tag with this
information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dig clams in Freeport
without a town license?
What is the 2-inch law?
What are the different types of shellfish
licenses in Freeport?
How do I go about getting a Town of
Freeport Shellfish license?
How do I know what areas are open for
clamming?
Why are areas closed for shellfish
harvesting?
What is the number for the shellfish
hotline?
Can I dig clams in Freeport without
a town license?
Yes, any person can dig up to 1 peck of clams for
their own personal use (not to sell commercially) in Wolfe's Neck Woods
State Park without a license. This type of harvest is still governed
under the 2-inch law.
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What is the 2-inch law?
Any harvested clams in the state of Maine must be 2 inches in length
(end to end not counting the neck of the clam that sticks out between
the two half shells). There is a 10% tolerance allowed before a digger
can be summons for possession of short clams.
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What are the different types of
shellfish licenses in Freeport?
Freeport has 2 types of commercial harvesting licenses (no limit on
take and allows for sale) and 2 types of Recreation licenses (limited
to 1 peck per day and doesn't allow for sale). There are resident and
non-resident licenses for these two types and the amount of licenses
issued per year are limited.
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How do I go about getting a Town of
Freeport Shellfish license?
The licenses are issued by the Town clerk. Once a commercial license is
secured, as long as the person keeps renewing the license and doesn't
violate the municipal shellfish ordinance, it is theirs to keep. If a
commercial license becomes available, a lottery will usually be held
for the license. The Town Clerk can answer more questions about
obtaining a license.
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How do I know what areas are open
for clamming?
The shellfish hotline is always kept up to date on current closure
information. If you are not familiar with the geographic information or
the local names of places in town, there are maps posted in the lobby
of the Police Department for the closures. If that still leaves doubt,
contact the Warden through the police department at 865-4800 and he
will assist you in finding the areas closed.
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Why are areas closed for shellfish
harvesting?
There are several different types of closures associated with
harvesting clams. There are closures for pollution and closures for
conservation efforts. Pollution closures include such things as
excessive rainfall (runoff from the land carrying toxins into the
water), closures for Sewer Treatment areas (outflow areas), Red Tide
Closures and seasonal closures (as with season Marina areas). There are
also closures for conservation efforts such as closures in newly seeded
areas. These closures are usually more short termed.
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What is the number for the shellfish
hotline?
865-2904, the warden's voice mail can also be obtained through this
number. His extension is 139. You can also leave a message by calling
the police department at 865-4800. The State hotline is 1-800-232-4733.
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