Join us as Wayne Castonguay, Regional Shellfish Program Supervisor for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, explores the future of the Merrimack River’s historic soft-shell clam fishery.
With the December 2024 closure of Massachusetts’ last Shellfish Purification Plant on Plum Island, a century-old lifeline for the industry has ended. Climate change, rising seas, and coastal erosion are reshaping both our shoreline and this heritage fishery that has sustained generations of harvesters and supplied restaurants nationwide.
Wayne brings both scientific expertise and personal connection to these waters. After 13 years leading the Ipswich River Watershed Association, where he developed nationally recognized climate adaptation models, he returned to the Division of Marine Fisheries to help coastal communities build resilience in the face of climate change.
This free public event will:
✔️ Explore the rich history of the Merrimack River clam fishery
✔️ Examine how climate change is impacting coastal industries
✔️ Present possible pathways forward for communities and harvesters
📅 Tuesday, October 21, 2025
⏰ Doors open at 6:30 PM | Presentation begins at 7:00 PM
📍 Newburyport Senior/Community Center, 331 High Street
💵 Free and open to all
The Storm Surge 2025/2026 Speaker Series is generously sponsored by the Institution for Savings.
