Shellfishery Management and Enforcement
Natural History
Shellfish resources in the Town of Barnstable have ecological, commercial, and recreational importance. Oysters, quahogs, softshell clams, mussels, and other bivalve species filter our coastal waters to remove algae, cleaning up the water. They also provide food for other marine animals and harvestable product to our commercial shellfishing industry. Recreational harvest of shellfish in Barnstable has been a treasured past time for Cape Cod residents and visitors for hundreds of years. The Town of Barnstable Natural Resources team is responsible for sustainable management of this vital marine resource.
Some shellfish you will find in Barnstable.
Quahogs of different sizes are the same species, they just have different names. They all want to grow up to be chowder!
Keep your catch cool!... for safe consumption.
** To shellfish in the town of Barnstable a current permit is required. They can be purchased in person at
1189 Phinneys Ln, Centerville, MA 02632. Please remember to check the latest information about shellfishing areas, closures, seasons, and updates by visiting our shellfishing webpage, and enjoy our shellfish resources responsibly !**Know Where to Go!
Please keep yourself up to date with the latest shellfish area closures and openings. Be on the look out for these types of signs, buoys , and maps when you plan to harvest shellfish in Barnstable "View Slideshow" It is not safe to eat shellfish from areas closed due to poor water quality and it is illegal to harvest shellfish from within aquaculture lease sites and town propagation projects. Current shellfish area closures.
