Minutes
Minutes
Shellfish Advisory Board Meeting
May 6, 2014
Town Hall Hearing Room
Present: Barbara Austin, Barbara Brennessel, John Duane, Joel Fox, James O’Connell Jacob Puffer (Alternate), Rebecca Taylor, Helen Miranda Wilson
Other in Attendance: Michele Insley, Alex Hay, John Brawley, Ethan Estey, Bob Wallace, Alfred Picard, Andy Koch (Shellfish Constable)
Meeting convened at 7:17pm.
Minutes from April 15 approved as corrected. 5-0; 1 abstention.
Capital Plan Funding Requests: SAB will ask for an addition $100.Funds can be used for educational opportunities and refreshments for Beach Clean up.
Conservation Commission Signage at Indian Neck: John Duane suggested change to signage:Voted unanimously: ” Wellfleet Commercial Shellfishermen Only.”BB will send the suggestion to Terry Gips.
Beach Clean Up Review:B.A. thought it went well.BB thought Old Wharf Road could use some clean up.We will coordinate with recycling committee again next year.
Draft Regulation Amendments:
Sections 7.18.2 Height and Arrangement of Equipment: There was agreement about gear limitation to 18 inches. There was a discussion about Chinese hats. This is a complex issue. We did not agree on a reasonable height for Chinese Hats. Ethan Estey offered to take some measurements of a standard spat collector before the SAB decides on a reasonable height. There was a heated discussion but no resolution. We will take this issue up at the next meeting as well as height of winter gear. Helen MW offered to talk to the Harbormaster about “what constitutes a hazard.”
Section 6.2.1 Required Icing of Product: There was a discussion about icing of oysters for noncommercial and commercial shellfishermen. We added 5.3.1 for non-commercial shellfishermen. Approved: 6-0
Proposed:
Section 5 Noncommercial Shellfishing
DRAFT Section 5.3.1 Required Icing and Shading of Harvest in Warmer Weather
During the Vibrio control period, as determined annually by the DMF (see the current Vibrio control plan Division of Marine Fisheries - Mass.Gov) due to concerns about the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, oysters taken by noncommercial permit holders shall be put in a container and surrounded by ice made from potable water within two (2) hours of the time when the first oyster (harvested on a given day) is taken from the water or, in the case of intertidal harvest, the time of first exposure to the air by tide.
All oysters taken from the water shall be protected from direct exposure to sunlight during harvest and subsequent transport from the harvest area to any destination, at all times.
With the first offense of this section, the harvester will lose his or her catch. With any subsequent offense, the harvester shall lose his or her catch and noncommercial permit for one year.
The SAB amended 6.2.1 to read:
DRAFT 6.2.1 Required Icing and Shading of Product
Annually, during the period of time that the DMF's Vibrio control plan is in effect, harvesters must comply with the State's regulations. (See the current Vibrio Control Plan Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) - Mass.Gov .)
With the first offense of this section, the harvester will lose his or her product. With any subsequent offense, the harvester shall lose his or her product and license and/or permit for one year.
This change was approved 5-1.
Memo to BOS regarding the Carl Barrio decision:The letter, (see attached)drafted by Helen MWwas approved6-0.It will be cc’d to Dan McKiernan, Paul Diodati, Jerry Moules and Mike Hickey.
John Duane will send around a letterhead that the SAB can use for official letters.
Decommissioned Shellfish Department Equipment: The question is what will happen to the old barge if the Shellfish Department gets a new one.Andy Koch suggested keeping the old barge until it no longer funtions. The Town has a grant for clutching.Currently, cultch is free. The Shellflsh Dept. will get $90,000 for a new barge.
BB brought a document (from a 2002 Shellfish Management Plan) forconsideration at next meeting.
Next Meeting:Monday June 2 at 7pm
Adjourned at 9:45.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Brennessel