HomeMy WebLinkAboutHSAB Minutes - January 5, 2010_201402051347390567Nantucket Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
Draft Minutes January 5, 2010
• Call to Order at 4:32PM: Members present Dr. Boyce (in the chair), Mr. Blount, Mr. Holdgate, Ms.
McCrae, Mr. Rank, and Mr. Smith. From Marine Dept. Mr. Fronzuto, Ms. Riley, Duane Dougan.
From the BOS: Mr. Willauer.
Others present: Mr. Brace, Mr. Herr
• Chairman’s Report:
Striped Bass Legislation: Dr. Boyce presented the draft of comments on the legislation arising
from the Public Meeting held on November 11, 2009. The draft was approved unanimously and
Dr. Boyce was authorized to send the comments to Nantucket’s elected state representatives and to
the BOS.
• Marine Department Report:
Scallop Harvest: Duane Dougan reported that the harvest has reached 11,800 bushels.
Safety: Mr. Fronzuto reported that a boat was aground in Madaket Harbor. He reiterated that
safety is important and that scallopers should be sure to keep an eye out for their fellow fishermen.
He asked that the last two boats out should arrange to come in together so that a single boat was
out alone in dark and possibly dangerous conditions.
Fiscal Report: Mr. Fronzuto reported a balance of $9,284 in the Propagation Account and
delivered a report of expenditures to be passed on to the Treasurer, Mr. LaFarge, who was absent.
Harbor Plan: Mr. Fronzuto reported that the Harbor Plan was approved by the State on
December 21, 2009. Dave will attend the Jan. 14 meeting of the HPIC to discuss plans.
Moving Seed: Mr. Fronzuto reported that the system in use to reward scallopers for moving the
seed last April was working well and will be employed this year. A list of the boats/scallopers
participating will be kept and those boats/fishermen will be allowed an extra bushel on Mondays
in December and January up to a total of 5 extra bushels.
Brant Point Boathouse: Mr. Fronzuto reported that he and Ms. Riley have been discussing the
future of the Boathouse. There is not enough room to do propagation and host off-island
researchers. Dr. Boyce noted that science and instrumentation is important for propagation, and it
would make sense for island scientists should have some presence in the boathouse. Mr. Fronzuto
opined that education could be done by the school system and that science could be done in a
cooperative way by other Island organizations, and that his staff could concentrate on propagation.
He mentioned ways in which more space could be obtained by lowering the upper floor, making
three usable floors, and carrying the second floor across what was the original boat bay. Ms. Riley
remarked that she was starting to grow algae now to experiment with methods which work well in
Nantucket waters.
• Old Business:
Update of HSAB Goals: The goals adopted on May 5 were discussed. A revised list will be
drawn up. The major changes were 1: to add monitoring and studying Harmful Algal Blooms
(HABs), 2: Broadening the NOAA proposal goal, which is no longer relevant, to following the
progress of any fundraising and proposal writing activity. The next immediate goal will be to
develop seed moving plans at the February meetings
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• New Business:
Falling Temperature Protocol: The recent occasion of temperatures falling below 28 degrees
was discussed. The boats were recalled through the use of cell phones after the temperature went
below the limit. The Board agreed that this would be sufficient in the future, and that it will be the
decision of the Harbormaster whether or not to send out one of his boats to recall the fleet. With
cellphones and radios on many of the fishing boasts now, the Board thought this would generally
be sufficient.
• Next meeting: November 3, 2009
• Meeting Adjourned: 5:58 pm
Respectfully submitted by Peter Boyce for Bam LaFarge
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