Shellfish License

Shellfish licenses

Shellfish harvesting is co-managed by the town and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, pursuant to Chapter 170 of the Municipal Code.

It is unlawful to dig or take soft-shell clams, quahogs, razor clams, hen clams, or oysters from flats located in Bar Harbor without a shellfish license issued by the town. License fees for recreational licenses are waived for harvesters under 18 and over 65 years of age. Licenses are available in the Town Clerk's office 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or by mail with a completed Shellfish License Application.

Bar Harbor FY26 Shellfish Licenses

Valid July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026

Available July 1, 2025

unlimited         Resident Commercial  (must hold State commercial license, conservation hours required)     $120

3                      Non Resident Commercial (State commercial license, conservation hours required)          $240

unlimited         Junior Resident Commercial (under 18, must hold State commercial license)                 $  60

10% Rule        Junior Non Resident Commercial (under 18, must hold State commercial license)         $120

unlimited         Resident Recreational                                                                                     $ 35

unlimited         Non Resident Recreational                                                                             $ 70

unlimited         Daily Resident Recreational                                                                           $ 10

unlimited         Daily Non Resident Recreational                                                                   $ 20

unlimited         Senior Resident Recreational (65 and over)                                                   Free

10% Rule        Senior Non Resident Recreational (65 and over)                                           Free
 unlimited         Junior Resident Recreational (under 18)                                                        Free*

10% Rule        Junior Non Resident Recreational (under 18)                                                Free*

*There is limited availability of senior and junior recreational licenses in each license year, based on the number of Resident licenses in each category. If there is not a license available, visitors over 65 or under 18 are welcome to purchase a standard Daily or seasonal Nonresident Recreational license.

Commercial shellfish harvesters must have a valid State of Maine Commercial Shellfish License to do any commercial harvesting of shellfish.  In addition, commercial harvesters need a Town of Bar Harbor Commercial Shellfish License. The number of commercial licenses available is adjusted annually by the Marine Resources Committee. Licenses are issued annually starting July 1 and are valid through June 30.

See also the harvesting information pamphlet prepared by the town Marine Resources Committee.

Flat Opening/Closings

The Maine Department of Marine Resources has an online interactive map with all of the shellfish closures listed as a layer in the map. This includes both long-term closures due to pollution and the risk of pollution from land-based sources, and short-term emergency closures due to biotoxins from harmful algal blooms, and short-term bacterial spikes in abundance due to heavy rain events. It also includes conservation closures determined by local clam co-management committees.  The map can be accessed here.

Conservation closure: The area in Northwest Cove and Clark Cove that is currently closed to harvest of quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) will open to recreational and commercial harvest of quahogs for individuals with a current Bar Harbor Shellfish License April 1, 2025.

Commercial harvest of this area will be limited to one bushel per day for a harvester; commercial harvest of this species remains unlimited throughout the rest of the town. For recreational harvesters, quahogs are part of a one-peck-a-day limit that includes soft-shell clams, quahogs, razor clams and American oysters.

Emergency Closing

Although we attempt to keep all the information on the town's website up to date and as accurate as possible, there are situations where emergency closures are imposed due to Red Tide and heavy rainfall.
 
If you are in doubt as to the status of a particular shellfish harvesting area or cannot access the DMR online map, contact the Harbormaster at 207-288-5571, Town Clerk, or Maine DMR. The Maine Shellfish Sanitation Hotline number is 800-232-4733.

Marine Resources Committee

For more information on clamming, clam biology, clam management, and marine resources research in Bar Harbor go to the Marine Resources Committee page.

Other Species
 
Species of shellfish other than those specified in the town's ordinance do not require a license for recreational harvest. State size and volume limits for all shellfish can be found at this webpage.

Oyster safety information

Mussel information