Mass. governor requests aid for shellfishermen

BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick is requesting federal disaster aid for shellfishermen hurt by this year’s red tide outbreaks.

Between April and July, high levels of the toxic algae closed more than 600,000 acres of shellfish areas between the North Shore and Cape Cod.

The state estimates an overall economic loss of $7 million.

Patrick on Friday asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to declare a commercial fishery failure.

That would make the shellfishing industry eligible for federal disaster assistance. Patrick said the money is needed to prevent a local collapse of the industry.

Red tide algae doesn’t hurt shellfish, but it can harm humans who eat shellfish that have absorbed it.