page_title: Menemsha Pond
section_title: Fishing & Aquaculture
hierarchical_section_title: Menemsha Pond / Fishing & Aquaculture
caption_attribution_description: English: Mussel bed at Menemsha Pond, Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, exposed at low tide Subject: Mytilus edulis, Mussels, Marthas Vineyard (Massachusetts) Geographic Subject: United States--Massachusetts--Marthas Vineyard Tag: Shellfish
context_page_description: Menemsha Pond is a salt pond split between the towns of Aquinnah & Chilmark, Massachusetts. At the mouth of the pond, the Menemsha Creek leads into the Menemsha Bight and the Vineyard Sound. Along Menemsha Creek sits the historic sea-side fishing village of Menemsha. Menemsha Pond connects to both Stonewall Pond via Nashaquitsa Pond and to Squibnocket Pond via the Squibnocket Herring Run.
  Since 1902, Menemsha Pond is a federally recognized Harbor of Refuge. This designation altered the development of both the harbor at Menemsha and the channel into Menemsha Pond. Before the federal designation and redesign of the inlet, the channel was dredged locally to maintain access.
context_section_description: Menemsha Pond supports commercial oyster farming. The towns also seed bay scallops, quahogs, and oysters in the pond. In addition, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head runs a hatchery on the southwest side of the pond. In the past, the hatchery conducted flounder spawning programs. Currently, there are no spawning programs; however, the tribe monitors the adjacent herring run from the hatchery building.
caption: Shellfish in Menemsha Pond, 1911
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