Wellfleet Shellfishermen's Association: Legislative Update - Cutler Bill

FROM THE WELLFLEET SHELLFISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION:

Sen. Julian Cyr and Rep. Sarah Peake will be coming to speak to the Wellfleet Shellfishermen's Association Membership on November 1, 2019 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm, to review recent legislation and to hear concerns regarding the future of the Shellfish Industry on Cape Cod and beyond. We will have an hour of their time to listen to their positions and to gain understanding of the current state of the "Cutler Bill" and the Massachusetts Shellfish Initiative etc.

• Bring your thoughtful questions & related concerns.
• All citizens are invited, but we ask questions from the general public be held until all shellfishermen have spoken.
• Light Refreshments will be served.   It will be held at Wellfleet Preservation Hall. 

We will also be joined by shellfishermen and civic leaders from Provincetown to Chatham who have joined with us in organizing as an industry these past 10 months.  In August, representatives from the six Outer Cape towns met to form, the Outer Cape Shellfish Coalition in order to unite the voices of the shellfishermen of the Outer Cape and beyond.  Members of the Coalition will also be present.   Any questions let us know, this meeting is open to all Wellfleet Shellfishermen and her citizens.    

Please see the attached letter that the MAA sent to the Joint Committee on the Environment at the State House, who were scheduled to hear the Cutler Bill on 10/29/19.  There was a great deal of "confusion" about the bill's status and this letter should help clarify the MAA's intentions.  It is not the same letter that was sent to the MAA Membership and forwarded by the DMF to our town officials last week.  In this letter, the MAA has asked the bill not be heard this session, but expects to attempt to bring it back in a revised/compromised form in the next session.   

We hope to see you there.  Please Congratulate yourselves on a job well done in creating this pause in the legislative process and for making room for the voices of our shellfishing community to be heard.   The Wellfleet Shellfishermen's Association is extremely grateful for all you have done and continue to do to protect the shellfish industry and the livelihoods of our citizens.   

For further information, contact wsaprotectingourheritage@gmail.com