HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-8-7Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
August 7th 2012 at 5:00 P.M.
Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members present: Chuck Connors, Wendy McCrae, Peter Brace, Michael Glowacki,
Members Absent: Doug Smith, Bill Blount, Dr. Boyce
Marine Dept:
Natural Resources Dept. Jeff' Carlson, Tara Riley,
Others: Police Chief Pittman, Matt Herr, Bruce Murray, Gordon Frazier
CALL TO ORDER
5:00 P.M.
Wendy McCrea asked that start with a moment of silence for Mr.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Unanimously approved
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Unanimously approved
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
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Bilingual shellfish regulations signage — NHS student project?
Dave Fronzuto's wife's church group and the NHS will make Bilingual signs to be posted.
Tim Russell's concern about misuse of harbor facilities.
Mr. Russell expressed his concern to Mr. Brace about the enforcement at the town pier.
Mr. Russell alleges that certain individual's boats are supposed to be in the floating docks
at the south side pier but instead they are docking them in the fixed slips on the north side
pier. He told Mr. Brace that those north side slips are for recreational boats only. He
also said that fluke fisherman are supposed to be paying transient dockage fees, that they
are not paying the fees and acting as if they own the town pier. He said that certain
individuals are leaving mooring gear on the bottom during the winter scallop season
which Mr. Russell says is illegal. He alleges that the whole thing is going on because of
cronyism. He told Mr. Brace that he has gone to the BOS and all of concerns have been
brushed aside. Chief Pittman said that there hasn't been an official complaint about these
issues but will be looking into it. Chief Pittman will get back to SHAB with an official
response.
Shellfish regulation change — Dan Pronk's permit.
To allow for Mr. Pronk to make this a more profitable fishery for himself, we
recommended to the selectman that they change the limit of quahogs from 10 bushels to
20. We also recommended to the BOS that a zero limit on conch bycatch be applied. The
selectmen agreed with our recommendation of 20 bushels but did not agree with our
recommendation of zero conch as a bycatch, thus allowing him to take any amount of
conch he wishes. At the July 18th BOS meeting Mr. Decosta was the main person
supporting Mr. Pronks request to keep conch as bycatch. Ms. McCrae asked if because
Mr. Decosta and Mr. Pronk make there living from fishing, couldn't it be considered a bit
too close to base for him to vote on such an issue. Mr. Brace stated that there isn't an
obvious conflict of interest with Mr. Decosta and Dan Pronk's relationship. Mr. Connors
mentioned that for years Mr. Pronk has been removing Mr. Decosta's old fish racks from
the barrels under the filleting table dockside where Bobby's charter boat "Albacore" is
tied up. Mr. Pronk then uses the racks for bait in his lobster pots. Mr. Glowacki
mentioned that if there is a conflict of interest it should go to the state ethics commission.
MARINE DEPARTMEN REPORT
Chief Pittman Gave the marine department report.
The barge near Polpis harbor was looked at by a member of the Coast Guard who deals
with aids to navigation and they came to the conclusion that there really isn't a marker
that could be put on the barge that would be safe. The USCG believes that any marker
put on the barge could cause more problems with navigation, especially in the fog,
causing people to think it may be a channel marker. Chief Pittman said they are looking
at estimates for getting the barge removed. He also stated that they are looking at getting
the Barnstable county dredge to come out and dredge out Polpis harbor. Squid fishing is
still banned at the town pier because of ink getting on boats. His officers have been
going down there at night and running people off.
Dwayne Dougan resigned his job as the town's shellfish warden. Chief Pittman stated
that there is no longer going to be the position of town shellfish warden. The
harbormaster and assistant harbormasters will be the enforcement and they are currently
speaking with the trustees of the reservation to help with enforcement. Chief Pittman
spoke about the penalties dished out for shell fish violations. Pittman noted that the
constitution gives everyone the right to "due Process" and all violations should be
reviewed before penalties are dished out. Ms. McCrae asked Chief Pittman about the
money saved by eliminating the shellfish warden position. Chief Pittman said that they
hired another assistant harbormaster so there wouldn't be any money saved. Mr. Hen
asked what would happen to a fisherman's catch if it were deemed unlawful. Different
from the past Chief Pittman said they would probably be confiscated, the catch held as
evidence and eventually destroyed.
NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT
Tara Riley gave the report.
Ms. Riley said that they did water quality testing at east and west Polpis and found that
when tested 2 weeks ago there wasn't any rust tide (Cochlodinium). Ms. Riley then stated
that the tests done at east and west Polpis on August 7th were loaded with the rust tide
(Cochlodinium). Ms. Riley asked that if any of the oyster growers are seeing anything
out there to let her know. In order to collect some data Ms. Riley is monitoring some
seed oyster in Polpis harbor to see the effects of the rust tide on them. She said the
oysters she received this year are doing very well and she has have had a 95% survival
rate.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT
No public comment
OLD BUSINESS
Appointment of three SHAB member to HPIC
A Motion to appoint Doug Smith, Dr. Boyce and Barn LaFarge was put on the table by
Mr. Glowacki, Seconded by Ms. McCrae and unanimously approved.
Report from HSAB Funding Subcommittee on water quality funding:
Mr. Glowacki said they circulated the mission statement and the work they have done
with the agenda packet and basically what they came up with was to ask HSAB to
endorse the mission statement that they have put together. Mr. Glowacki motioned the
board to approve the mission statement and the recommendations, Mr. Connors seconded
the motion and it was approved unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Appointment of HSAB sewer planning work group member:
A motion was put on the table by Ms. McCrae to nominate Michael Glowacki for the
sewer planning work group. The motion was seconded by Mr. Connors and was
unanimously approved.
Bruce Murray Aquaculture Lease - Inactive Discussion — Tara Riley
Ms. Riley stated that since 1998 records show that there hasn't been any shellfish
production on Mr. Murray's site. Ms. Riley met with Mr. Fronzuto and he confirmed that
there hasn't been any activity on the site since the lease was issued. She spoke with Jerry
Moles from the DMF who also confirmed no activity on the lease since 1998. Ms. Riley
recommends that Mr. Murray's lease be revoked due to inactivity and the fact that there
is a waiting list for these aquaculture leases. This wouldn't be the first time a lease was
revoked; Ms. Riley noted that when Holgate left gear on an abandoned site it was
revoked last year.
Mr. Murray stated that he has paid his rent every year, and that he has purchased 450
trays, 165 bags and has put some gear up there last week. He also said that he spoke to
some one about ordering 10,000 to 20,000 seed and that would be available next month.
Ms. Riley reminded SHAB members that you don't introduce seed oysters into the water
in September. Oysters are ordered during the winter months for use the following year.
Ms. Riley added that you would be getting very little growth out of an oyster introduced
at this late in the year and that your cages would have to be sunk shortly after. When
asked the question of when he would start producing he answered that it is the summer
and he has a family business which is very busy. Ms. McCrae asked that we continue this
till next meeting and see what Mr. Murray.
Mr. Glowacki made a motion to have this continued to next meeting, Ms. McCrae
seconded it and it was unanimously approved.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT
No public comment
RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Bruce Murray lease (keep or revoke)
Bilingual shellfish signage.
ADJOURN
Unanimously approved
Future Meetings:
Sept. e Sept. 18th
Respectfully Submitted,
Chuck Connors, Secretary