Massachusetts Shellfish Initiative

Launched in 2017, the MSI was a first-of-its-kind partnership that brought together the Commonwealth's major shellfish sectors (aquaculture, wild harvest, and restoration), with a mission to maximize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the State's shellfish resources.  In 2021, the MSI Strategic Plan was finalized after a stakeholder scoping process.  

Thanks to a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, the MSI developed  a 5 year strategic plan, based on recommendations from a broad range of coastal and shellfish stakeholders. Near shore shellfish resources support robust recreational fisheries in our coastal communities and directly generate over $43 million annually from commercial wild harvest and aquaculture production.  Shellfish also provide significant environmental benefits and contribute to the health of coastal ecosystems. Interest in shellfish has been on the rise in recent years, driving the need for a comprehensive statewide plan that will support continued responsible growth, while improving communication among stakeholders and leveraging ongoing state and municipal efforts.

The MSI Strategic Plan, Assessment Report, and Scoping Documents, including extensive stakeholder outreach via public meetings and listening sessions and online survey results, can be viewed here.