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Home My WebLink About2013-4-16Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board April 16th 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Peter Brace (Chair), Dr. Peter Boyce, Chuck Connors, Wendy McCrae, Doug Smith, Michael Glowacki Members Absent: Bill Blount Marine Dept: Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson, Tara Riley Others: Dan Drake, Scott Leonard, Dan Pronk, Emma Macaire, Jo Perkins, Peter Howl, Peter Crow, Sharon Young, Peter Morrison, Quint Waters, Michelle Perkins CALL TO ORDER 5:00 P.M. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Unanimously pproved APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes for April 2nd HSAB meeting Unanimously approved Jetties rebuilding update — Dave Fronzuto: Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Fronzuto Spoke about the approximate 10.2 million dollars that was awarded to the town of Nantucket out of the Hurricane Sandy Relief fund to rebuild both the East and West Jetties. Mr. Fronzuto explained the history of the jetties and the condition they are in today, and why it's essential to have them built up. He noted that most of the east jetty is under water at high tide and posses a major problem in both safety and as an aid to navigation. It is possible that the work could begin as early as January 2014 but is more likely to begin some time between May and October 2014. Fronzuto said raising the jetties will increase the velocity of water flowing in and out of the harbor. He also said that the cut will almost certainly remain on the east jetty. At the end of the east jetty, a possibly a platform will be added for easier access to the light. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Election of officers: The Board Voted unanimously to keep the existing officers in their current seats. Peter Brace (Chairman), Doug Smith (Vice Chairman) and Charles Connors (Secretary). (Ms. McCrae abstained from voting) 2012 SMAST Water Quality Report April 30th at 5:00pm SMAST will be giving their report on the water quality results from 2012. This report will also be available on the Towns website or you can email Tara Riley for a copy. MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT: No Report Given. NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT New Departmental Structure and responsibility presentation — Jeff Carlson: Mr. Carlson spoke and showed the board a slide show about the Natural Resources Departmental structure and how it has changed. Jeff Carson, Natural Resources Coordinator, Tara Riley, Shellfish Biologist, J.C. Johnson, Natural Resources Enforcement Officer (Formally know as the Shellfish Warden), plus a staff of seasonal interns that work for the NRD and the shellfish Biologist (Tara Riley). The NRD is responsible for Beach management, Conservation Commission, Shellfish Resources management, Shellfish Propagation, Shellfish enforcement, and the Town's water quality Program. The goal of the NRD is to preserve, restore or protect Nantucket's natural resources though responsible active management, research, regulation enforcement, education and outreach to the citizens of Nantucket. Mr. Carlson said that he would like to see all NRD employees be trained to and be able to fill in as Shellfish Wardens when needed. The NRD would like to hire a full time Town Biologist water research specialist. Mr. Carlson also added that they are working on building their volunteer base, and are in the process of developing a departmental website along with social networking. Aquaculture program update - Tara Riley: One of the recommendations of the SNIP that was just adopted last week was to find new area's to be considered for aquaculture in and around Nantucket. Ms. Riley presented a slide show addressing certain problems that the current growers are having. She spoke about the sites in the "head of the harbor" and how the deep water is causing a problem for growers to access their oysters in winter when their cages are sunk. To better allow for the harvest and sale of shellfish in the winter Tara talked about possibly getting a smaller, shallower area approved so that the growers could move a small amount of their shellfish to those areas making them more accessible throughout the winter. A map displaying a few areas that Ms. Riley would like to have surveyed by the DMF for possible use with aquaculture was shown, and she asked HSAB to write a letter of support to the BOS to have those areas surveyed when the DMF comes out to Nantucket. Mr. Glowacki made a motion to support such a letter; seconded by Dr. Boyce and unanimously approved. (Doug Smith abstained on grounds that he will be working with the NRD) Shellfish Management Plan — Tara Riley: The Plan was adopted last Wednesday (April 10t1' 2013) by the BOS and is in the process of advertising for implementation committee members. They are using suggestions that were stated in the SMP from representation organizations but not from specific people, and they are opening it up for the public. Jeff Carlson said that the frame work is being constructed for getting committee members. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT No Public comment OLD BUSINESS Seal Abatement Coalition — request for recommendation to BOS on SAC's research resolution: The Seal Abatement Coalition was asking the board to write a letter of support to the BOS for their "Research Resolution ". We had a discussion with Peter Howl and Peter Crow from SAC as well as and Scott Leonard (NMMCP) and others. Scott Leonard told the Board that the Civic League will be meeting on May 20'', at either 4:30pm or 5:00pm for a debate about the gray seal population. Some of the discussion was about problems with water quality, fishing, and gear conflicts that are apparently caused by the gray seals. It was noted by Doug Smith that while working a charter boat, fishing off of Great Point the seals are known to grab onto your fish and pull the rods into the water, he also said that the amount of fecal matter on Muskeget's beach was so thick that upon stepping on the feces covered sand, a powdery cloud of dust is formed and then gets inhaled. Mr. Pronk spoke about the reduction of lobsters around Muskeget and the loss of money he has incurred due to gear conflicts with the seals. After discussion the board decided that we do support much of what SAC's Research Resolution had to say, but did not support every point written in it. Although we feel more research is needed into the gray seal population, HSAB did not want to support any specific organization or interest group on this matter. Mr. Glowacki made a suggestion that we write a direct letter to the BOS that explains our stand on this issue. Part of the letter will be that the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board supports and encourages, objective science based research into the implications of the evolving gray seal population in and around Nantucket waters. Mr. Glowacki made the motion that we write the letter; it was seconded by Mr. Smith and unanimously approved. NEW BUSINESS Bay Scallop Branding Presentation — Emma Macaire Emma Macaire gave her presentation on how she is working with the NSA on Nantucket Bay Scallop Branding. A slide show presentation was shown to the board. She displayed the new logo and examples of how the branding would work. She noted that this is being done to support the Nantucket Bay Scallop fishery. Given the extraordinary competition in fisheries today and Ramped fraud in seafood labeling, branding Nantucket Bay Scallops is a great idea. Branding will help people to identify the origin of the authentic product and allow us to better connect with markets and consumers who are willing to pay for what is clearly a luxury product. Ms. Macaire said that we could anticipate over time, a larger demand for our catch and more stable pricing over the season. The Three key components are the Logo, Funded by the NSA and filed on September 12, 2012, the packaging with logo, also funded by the NSA, which will be available to any Nantucket resident for the 2013 -2014 Bay Scallop season, and the website, funded by the NSA and dedicated to all things Nantucket. Logo Packaging entails 4 different things, a 4" circular packing label, a customized Tyvex seafood tags, spear tags (two sided tag for retail purveyors) and a brochure for retailers so that they have something to talk about with customer regarding Nanucket bay scallops. This packaging will be free from the NSA to Nantucket wholesalers and resellers. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT Dan Drake said we should have a discussion about enforcement of the brand. He mentioned how some places are claiming to offer Nantucket Bay Scallops when they are not even in season, how one retailer claimed that the Nantucket bay scallop season had been re- opened when in fact it had not. RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Update on SBRW SMAST water quality report Marine Department general report of harbor facilities Summer meeting schedule ADJOURN Motion was made by Dr. Boyce; seconded by Mr. Connors and Unanimously Approved Future Meetings: May 7a' 2013 May 21" 2013