December 24, 2012 (HYANNIS) _ Fishing regulators are opening up parts of Georges Bank that have been closed to harvesting for 22 years for Atlantic Surfclam and ocean Quahog fishing.

The areas, which will reopen in January, were closed following tests that found high levels of a toxin there that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans.

The industry, regulators and academics have developed a testing approach which has fishermen testing the shellfish for the toxins onboard.

Then, scientists at approved labs conduct further testing to ensure the shellfish are safe.