Red tide closures along the Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts coast have prompted the federal government to declare a commercial fishery failure, which will allow disaster assistance for related industry workers.
Friday’s announcement by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez answers a request filed two months ago by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, according to the Associated Press. Shellfish closures from red tide began in Massachusetts in May and spread to New Hampshire and Maine. The toxic algae contamination was so intense that potentially toxic levels were found in the liver of lobsters.
Red tide levels dropped in August and some closures have been lifted.
