HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-15Harbor and shellfish Advisory Board
Minutes
November 17, 2015
Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members Present: Peter Brace, Wendy McCrae, Peter Boyce, Kenneth Gullicksen and
Andy Lowell
Members absent: Bill Blount and Michael Glowacki
Call to Order at 5:02
Agenda Approved
Minutes of November 3, 2015 not available.
Chairman's report: none.
Marine Dept. report: none
Natural Resources, report, Tara Riley: 50 -75 bushels of seed scallops picked up (from
beaches due to wind). Boathouse demolition is under way. Got appropriation at Special
Town Meeting, $13M, should cover gap. Expected completion -end of May. Working
on documentary with John Stanton on bay scallop fishery.
Brace: location of seed? A: concentrated in Quaise area.
Gullicksen: are reports of seed being taken, what inspection and enforcement actions are
being taken? A: there have been some reports but inspection has shown few.
Boyce: he has been involved with survey by Val Hall of shells from shanties. Few seed
found.
Lowell: eel grass, any initialization of eel grass? A: will be a meeting, will consider
restoration, if appropriate.
Public comment: Larry Cronin- as to results of shell survey (what found)? A: (Boyce)
most were nubs.
Old Business: 60 and over license- Dave Fronzuto- reviewed regulations for applicable
place to insert, 2.14- Method of Taking, drafted proposed 2.14b
McCrae: why 2 bushels /week? A: was 2 bushels /day.
Gullicksen: what being amended, regulations on line not consistent with proposed
amendment. A(Riley) new regulations were adopted March 4, 2015, are on NRD
website.
Gullicksen: limit should be in limit section, non - commerical is covered by 3.2. Why
limit to dredge, why not allow commercial divers to continue?
Discussion of commercial licenses, vs white button vs prior over 60 commercial license
(in context of what form new over 60 license will take).
McCrae: motion to approve language as drafted. Seconded. Discussion: Proposed to
delete "lifetime permit ", limit to Nantucket residents who fished in Nantucket waters.
McCrae: amend motion: strike "person ", substitute "Nantucket resident ", strike
"lifetime permit ", after scallops, add "within waters of Nantucket ". Gullicksen: add
methods used previously, including dredge. Lowell: is penalty enough? Suggested loss
of license penalty if over three violations. Decided penalty to be per chart, language to be
voted but to be inserted in appropriate sections. Voted: all in favor.
Alternate boat hauling location: Lowell- would like to keep on burner if something
comes up. Per Sheila Lucey, Brant Point location is federal land, USCG unlikely to
approve, but could be contacted.
New Business: Water Quality Analysis: Kaitlyn Shaw- background, eutrophication can
lead to habitat degradation. Nitrogen:.37mg/1 low, more than .48mg/1 very high
nitrogen. Oysters need more than 3mg/1 oxygen, prefer more than 6mg/l. Outer harbor,
in 2012 and 2014 surpassed .35mg/l, the recommended TMDL level. 2014 was below
TMDL. Inner harbor- above TMDL since 2009. Polpis, above TMDL since 2009 and
approaching .48 level, so is unsuited for transplant of eel grass. Oxygen, outer harbor,
low in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Madaket- no TMDL set due to high flushing. Total nitrogen
.33mg /1. 2012 Hither Creek TMDL greater than .45mg/1, above except for 2014.
Dissolved oxygen- over 5mg /1 except 2010 and 2013. Plan to pair eel grass analysis with
water quality for correlation, set up habitat monitoring, track improvements from Board
of Health regulations, sewer extension and jetty reconstruction.
Lowell: is there more we can do as to natural sources, including seals and seagulls? A:
(Brace) are people advocating for deterrents, need federal approval.
Cronin: requested information regarding time of year and sample depths for study. A:
May to September summer average. If less than 1.5M one mid -level sample. If greater
than 1.5M bottom and mid averaged. Increases in July, stays high through September.
Cronin: what limit of town's enforcement? A: (Brace) Town can enforce for three miles
but doesn't have resources to enforce outside harbor.
Draft HSAB report: McCrae would like to see officers and members listed.
Prior secretary kept notes on computer which crashed and was discarded. Some are
missing. Anyone with copies of those missing asked to provide copies.
Harbor Regulations: to be taken up at next meeting.
Recap /next meeting: revised proposed over 60 regulations (Fronzuto). Proposed mooring
regulation changes. Brace may contact for pond report.
The meeting adjourned at 7:22.