Bristol and South Bristol clammers should soon be able to harvest the Pemaquid River flats for the first time in five years.
The Department of Marine Resources plans to open the flats within the month.
Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Shellfish Growing Area Program Manager Alison Sirois said the department is “ready to go” and is waiting on Bristol to address a procedural matter before opening the flats.
DMR closed the flats on Jan. 24, 2007 as a result of high bacteria levels and overboard discharges.
The closure “was a pretty big blow” to local shellfishermen, as all, or close to all, of Bristol’s other flats are also closed, Eric Sroka, a marine resources specialist with DMR, said.
The department expects to open about 40 acres of harvestable flats, although seasonal restrictions will apply to certain locations, Sroka said.
DMR will continue to work with the Department of Environmental Protection to remediate remaining overboard discharges, Sirois and Sroka said.