The original FDA approved map of the Duxbury Bay oyster growing area showed all of Duxbury Bay as conditionally approved. The Duxbury Bay oyster beds were recently reassessed due to the Plymouth Bay sewage outlet further to the south. The new map reduced the approved area, making only the section of the bay south of Eagle's Nest and Clark's Island conditionally approved. According to the Duxbury Clipper, only one in Duxbury's 29 oyster farms will be negatively affected.
Classifying oyster beds as conditionally approved has negative affects as it impacts where local growers can sell their oysters. For example, only oysters from fully open areas can be sold to Europe as required by a trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. Additionally, according to the Duxbury Clipper, areas classified as conditionally approved will be shut down if there is a release of raw sewage or an amount of 400 parts per 100 milliliters of fecal coliform sample. A closure typically lasts 21 days, the amount of time oysters need to remove any toxins within. The Duxbury Clipper states that the highest fecal coliform count in the last five years was 119 parts per 100 millimeters, which is very low.
Areas shown in blue have been classified as conditionally approved:
*Image taken from the Duxbury Clipper
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