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Oyster growers, regulators, and environmentalists are banding together to call for more money and data to support the future of the state’s shellfishery.
The 21-member task force known as the Massachusetts Shellfish Initiative has spent the last three years developing a plan to maximize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of shellfish resources, as the $45 million shellfish industry increasingly faces economic and environmental pressures.
To protect the industry, the group is calling for a formally established Shellfish Advisory Panel to offer advice on legislative priorities; nature-based solutions to address wastewater management to limit negative impacts to shellfishermen; and increased educational and economic opportunities for members of the industry.