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Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, July 6, 2015

Minutes

Shellfish Advisory Board
July 6, 2015
Town Hall

Present: Barbara Austin, Jim O’Connell, Jacob Puffer, Tom Siggia, Rebecca Taylor,

Regrets: John Duane

Others in Attendance:  John Mankevetch (assistant constable), Zack Dixon, Helen Miranda Wilson (selectboard), Bob Wallace, Marilyn Miller (reporter)

1. Minutes from June 8, 2015 accepted, 4-0.

2. ACCESS TO GRANTS REGULATION

Helen Miranda Wilson asked SAB to recommend to the Board of Selectmen the removal of the Board of Selectmen’s Policy for Award of Shellfish Grants and the addition of a new Regulation Draft regarding Access to Areas Licensed for Aquaculture is Required (7.5.1). She presented both documents.

Rebecca Taylor asked if this was the result of any specific incidents and Helen replied that it was not and clarified that this a refinement of existing regulations. 

Barbara Austin moved to recommend approval of the removal of the Policy for Award of Shellfish Grants and the addition of New Regulation Draft to section 7.5 of the Shellfish Policy and Regulations. Jacob Puffer seconded and the motion was approved 4-0.

3. UPDATE ON MAPPING SHELLFISH GRANTS FOR BOATER SAFETY

Jacob and Tom have been looking into electronically mapping the shellfish grants.

Jacob contacted NOAA about adding Wellfleet shellfish grants to their maps. He is expecting a call back .

Tom looked into Google Maps and found three possibilities:

  1. Google Contact Partner – includes parks and protected areas. The application is intensive, but the end result would be inclusion in Google Maps. Very accurate and accessible to all.

  2. Google My Maps – draws points on maps, owned by the town and would be on the town website (link?)

  3. Google My Maps (2) – hand drawn, not as accurate, but easy to do.

Jacob and Tom will continue to research this project.

Barbara emphasized that getting the paper version of the shellfish grant map out to boaters should be a priority. There was discussion of where to make paper copies. Suggestions included the Shellfish Dept. and Town Hall.

4. BLOOD ARKS

After much discussion at prior meetings the SAB recommendation was a 10 bushel limit on blood arks. 

Helen stated that a voted recommendation is now needed. Discussion ensued and the consensus was that not a lot is known about blood arks. Considerations discussed were:

  • because of weather conditions, there are a limited # of days to fish in the spring

  • when asked, DMF has said to go ahead and fish them

  • blood arks have a very short life span, so they may die off naturally if not fished

  • markets don’t want any small stuff, so low risk of overfishing

  • if the fishing effort becomes much greater, then maybe the limit should be reduced

  • the principle boat fishing for blood arks has not gone over the limit

  • fishing blood arks takes pressure off of the oyster draggers

Barbara Austin moved to leave the recommended limit of 10 bushels as it is, to be revisited next year. Jacob Puffer seconded and the motion was approved, 4-0.

  1. HEIGHT AND ARRANGEMENT OF SHELL FISHING GEAR

Barbara stated that SAB is recommending a 24” shellfishing gear restriction. John Mankevetch said that Mike Flanagan (Harbormaster) wants the restriction to remain at 18”.

Helen said that she has heard that other towns with boating and shellfishing  do not have height restrictions. Helen will contact the Shellfish Depts. of other Cape towns and get back to SAB.

Helen said that the BOS will take up this issue in their August meeting.

  1. BRANDING

Barbara stated that after discussion in previous meetings, SAB will leave branding alone as it would create too many issues to take on.

      Barabara Austin moved to not brand Wellfleet oysters. Jacob Puffer seconded and the motion was approved, 4-0.

  1. WILD FISHERY

John Mankevetch announced that the wild fishery is not doing well. He said that he has been trying to recruit wild oyster fishermen to come to SAB meetings, but with no luck. He suggested that we may need a separate meeting just for the wild fishery issue.  He stated further that it is a tough situation . . . we don’s have any oysters out there and we need to look at anything that may help.

A quick brainstorm yielded the following possible areas of exploration:

  • longer area closures?

  • closed area at the river?

  • Deep water area?

  • Hats in the cove . . .good or bad?

  • Town propagation program?

Jake noted that the problem stems from a combination of natural factors and overfishing.

Rebecca suggested that we need to brainstorm, create a big list of ideas, research those ideas and then have a separate wild fishery meeting. John agreed. Jim and Barbara suggested that SAB host that meeting.  Helen suggested that notice of such a meeting should have a long lead-time.

  1. NEXT MEETING, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 AT 7:00 P.M.

9. MEETING ADJOURNED 7:10 P.M.