Closures are established wherever there is a pollution source, a potential pollution threat, or bad water quality. Closures are designed to create no-dig safety zones around polluted areas. Closure lines are drawn between clearly visible points to make closed areas easy to identify for harvesters and enforcement officials. Red tide is a population explosion of tiny algae that contain a dangerous toxin. The toxin affects humans by paralyzing the central nervous system and, in high doses, can cause death.
People can get sick.
Flats will be closed until the harvest location is identified. DMR determines where the shellfish were dug from the shellfish tag information. Digger faces legal action. Consumers stop buying shellfish. Maine may not be allowed to ship shellfish out of state.