enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Clam flats near Higgins Beach in Scarborough were closed Thursday after days of heavy rains that have washed bacteria and pollutants into coastal Maine waters. The appearance of toxic red tide algae and forecasts for more rain mean flats may be closed for a while.

Steamed and fried clams are in short supply in Maine, thanks to the rainy weather.

And the outlook for clam lovers, and clam diggers, is not brightening.

Forecasts of more rain and now the appearance of red tide algae mean clam flats in some areas might not be reopening soon.

"There literally aren't any clams available in the state right now," said Chad Coffin, a Freeport clam digger and president of the Maine Clammers Association. "The industry has been idled by the rain, that's for sure."

Rains wash bacteria and other pollutants into coastal waters, which can make clams and other shellfish dangerous to eat. Maine's Department of Marine Resources closed most of the state's shellfish beds Monday because of heavy rain and is now testing coastal waters in hopes of reopening some areas as soon as this weekend.

Now the department is reporting increasing levels of red tide algae, especially in northeastern Maine, that apparently was pushed toward shore by winds this week. The algae contains a toxin that accumulates in shellfish, and the state also closes clam flats when red tide is found at unsafe levels.

State officials say clams sold by reputable dealers are safe to eat because they come from areas that aren't closed due to bacteria or red tide.

Some dealers are bringing in clams from southern New England, but are paying at least twice as much as they would for local clams, Coffin said.

Geoff Ray, an owner of Free Range Fish & Lobster in Portland, said he's got a load coming from Canada for customers who have been asking for clams. He said Thursday he didn't know what they will cost.

"I don't know what we are paying for them yet." But, he said, "we will have steamers for the weekend."

Ray said rain closures typically last a week, but he's concerned that continuing rains expected into next week will keep bacteria levels from returning to normal.

Rains also can lead to more prolonged closures by causing a particular clam flat to fail one of the state's regular, random tests, according to Coffin.

"We can weather these temporary closures, but we can't weather the prolonged closures of 18 months to five years," he said.

Red tide can also mean large-scale and prolonged closures of clam flats. It has become less of a disruption in recent years, however, because of more extensive state testing that allows clammers to keep digging in isolated, unaffected areas, Coffin said.

Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:

jrichardson@pressherald.com