Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Shellfishing Permit Information

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Shellfishing Permit Information

Thank you for your interest in permit holder and does not also possess Parking shellfishing at Parker River National a valid refuge commercial shellfishing Parking for shellfishing is permitted Wildlife Refuge. Please read the permit, is subject to the entrance fee. in designated lots only and is on a first following information thoroughly so Annual refuge entrance passes are come-first served basis. These lots are that we may ensure your shellfishing available. as follows: refuge subheadquarters/ experience is as safe and enjoyable maintenance area (Newbury), Nelson as possible. Please do not hesitate to Access Island and Hellcat/lot 4 (Rowley), lot contact us if you have any questions or Use is limited to the normal hours of 6 and three reserved clamming lots concerns. Enjoy your visit! refuge operation, sunrise to sunset. (Ipswich). Commercial shellfishing The Plum Island portion of the refuge permit holders may also park at Nelson Permits is closed whenever vehicle parking Island. All permittee vehicles must To access clam flats from the refuge, capacity is reached. At these times display a valid refuge decal (issued with you must have on your person a valid both recreational and commercial the refuge permit) on the driver’s side, Refuge Use Permit for shellfishing. To permit holders are allowed access for lower corner of the windshield. qualify for and maintain the validity clamming purposes only, three hours of a refuge permit, you must possess before - three hours after low tides. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge a valid commercial or recreational In the fall, all clamming access via the 6 Plum Island Turnpike clamming license from the Towns of Plum Island portion of the refuge is Newburyport, MA 01950 Newbury, Rowley, or Ipswich. Refuge prohibited during the annual refuge 978/465 5753 permits must be applied for in-person deer hunt (it is advisable to wear 978/465 2807 Fax and are available year-round from hunter orange whenever clamming e-mail:[email protected] refuge headquarters during normal during deer and waterfowl hunting www.fws.gov/northeast/parkerriver business hours (Monday - Friday, seasons). To reduce conflict with 8 am - 4:30 pm, federal holidays waterfowl hunters, only commercial Federal Relay Service excluded) and from the refuge shellfishing permit holders are allowed for the deaf and hard-of-hearing entrance gatehouse, located on Sunset access through Nelson Island to the 1 800/877 8339 Drive, when staffed. Please bring Nelson Island flats Monday - Saturday, your vehicle registration and Town generally from early September - early U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shellfishing license when applying February. Access to refuge shellfishing 1 800/344 WILD for a refuge permit. Refuge permits areas may also be prohibited due to http://www.fws.gov are valid through December 31 of the other factors including town flats year of issuance, are not transferable, closure for public health concerns. It August 2008 and are at all times subject to is the responsibility of the clammer discretionary revocation by the refuge to know the status of the flats. This manager. Permittees must abide by information is not available from refuge all refuge, town, and state shellfishing personnel but from the respective regulations. town halls, shellfish constables or by phoning 978/356 6671. Access from the User Fees refuge to all flats is from designated Refuge shellfishing permits are parking areas and by foot only. From issued free of charge. Recreational lot 6 clammers must leave the dike at shellfishing permit holders are subject the base of the hill only and return via to a daily refuge entrance fee of $5/ the same route. Access from Hellcat vehicle, $2/walk-on or bicycle at the Wildlife Observation Area (lot 4) is Plum Island section of the refuge. permitted only from November 1 - Commercial shellfishing permit March 31 and clammers must walk due holders are allowed free access for west of the Hellcat observation tower clamming purposes only, three hours and return via the same route. Only before - three hours after low tides. commercial shellfishing permittees Anyone 16 years of age or older who are allowed vehicle access onto accompanies a commercial shellfishing Nelson Island. Emerson Rocks Bar Head Stage Island Pool Overlook 7 Bill Forward 6 Bird M Blind Stage Island Pool Atlantic Ocean Hellcat Wildlife Bill Pines Observation Area Forward Trail Sandy Point Pool State South Cross Farm Reservation North Field Hill North M Pool Parker River Overlook North 5 National Wildlife Refuge Field I 4 I Salt Pannes Wildlife Refuge Boundary Observation Area a Grape Island Road Gatehouse (pay entrance Plum Island North Pool M Boardwalk to Beach fee here) 2 3 Middle q Refuge Headquarters aS Ground Northern Blvd. aC d a Rest Rooms 1 un So S Visitor Information nd Eagle HillI River Sunset Drive a Designated Parking Area The Basin er l Plum iv s I q R I Numbered Designated Is d m Newburyport l an Plu Parking Area Harbor o er Public Boat RampIpswich Lighthouse iv R M Seal y Observation Tower Waterfowl Waterfowl le o Island Hunting Hunting w C Maintenance Area o Joppa Area A Area C R 1

Waterfowl 95 Hampton▲ N MA Woodbridge Hunting Nelson Island 061 2 345 Miles Area B Island NH

r e MA Atlantic Plum Island Tpk. Island Plum v I Amesbury i R Ocean 495 113 Newburyport

Flats r

e d Parker River

r I a National Wildlife a o 97 1 Refuge

P 1A R

Refuge Headquarters 1A Waterfowl Hunting Area d 133 r Ipswich qand Visitor Center a Rolfe's Lane boundaries on this map are y Bay

Salisbury approximate. Contact refuge c 95 Ipswich

a t 133

o headquarters for further S information. 1A 1A Gloucester Danvers 128 ater Street Rowley W Newbury 1 128 1 Newburyport Massachusetts Bay

Merrimack River