Shellfish closure responsibility belongs to which agency?

• A. NOAA
• B. Maine DMR
• C. USCG
• D. EPA

Answer: (B)

Shellfish closures are managed at the state level, reflecting responsibility for local water quality and harvest safety. In Maine, that authority rests with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, which monitors water quality, shellfish health, and contamination levels in state waters and issues harvest area closures or openings as needed. They also coordinate with public health authorities to ensure safe harvesting.

Federal agencies like NOAA handle broader federal fisheries and coastal management, but the specific task of closing or reopening shellfish beds within state waters is a state function. The Coast Guard focuses on safety and enforcement, not shellfish bed closures, and the EPA oversees environmental protection more generally rather than managing harvest closures.