June 22: Tisbury Shellfish Day Was a Big Success

What's going on in the Shellfish Department:

The Tisbury Shellfish Department hosted its fourth annual Family Shellfish Day on Saturday, June 22 at the area reserved for recreational shellfishing between Wind’s Up! and the Lagoon Pond launch ramp (marked off by black buoys).

On a glorious summer day, more than 60 people turned out to learn about shellfishing. Participants included locals who had never shellfished before, to guests from London, England, and Portland, Oregon. The best part is everyone left with enough quahogs for dinner.

Noah is raking up his dinner.

“The purpose of Shellfish Day is to introduce people to shellfishing and our natural resources,” Shellfish Constable Danielle Ewart said.

Volunteers, and the Tisbury Shellfish Department, helped to provide supplies, expertise, and tips. Young and old learned how to hold a rake, measure a clam, and the differences between littlenecks, cherrystones, and chowder-size clams (size matters). There were also swimming pools set up with spider crabs, green crabs, and scallops, to teach children and adults alike about local predators and shellfish. 

“Watching all these people have such a great time was a lot of fun,” Ms. Ewart said.

Assistant Shellfish Constable, Fred Benson (left) with daughter Sarah Hahn and her husband Dan and two kids Emma and Andy

The Tisbury Shellfish Department is grateful to all the volunteers who lent rakes, baskets and time to help make the day a success, and to Ralph Packer for providing additional parking space.