"We've been concerned in recent years with the drastically dropping lobster population and the shellfish beds."

The project has been opposed here over fears for the sound's ecosystem and its shellfish beds.

The new plan rerouted the cable to reduce its impact on shellfish beds.

Serious spills frequently require the closing of shellfish beds or public beaches.

Agency officials said shellfish beds in the state have never been closed because of red tide.

Not long afterward, the state closed a nearby shellfish bed because the water had become contaminated by runoff from the lot, he said.

Last year, she noted, shellfish beds in Greenwich were opened for the first time in several years.

"We are going to have to close our shellfish beds," he said.

The new people who want to get into the industry, where do they get the shellfish beds?

It is reportedly does great damage to cultured shellfish beds.