HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-19Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members present: Peter Brace, Michael Glowacki, Doug Smith, Bill Blount, Dr. Boyce
Members Absent: Wendy McCrae, Chuck Connors
Marine Dept:
Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson
Others: Tim Mooney, Zachary McMullen
CALL TO ORDER
5:00 P.M.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Unanimously approved
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Unanimously approved
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Mr. Brace reminded the board of the venue change for the Dec. 17 meeting, which is
going to meet in training room at 2 Fairgrounds Road.
Mr. Brace asked Mr. Carlson to make sure that he sends materials pertaining to
apprentice and late license requests prior to the meeting at which these issues are to be
considered to the chairman so he or she can distribute the materials to board members so
they can have time to digest the requests and form their thoughts. Mr. Carlson said that
shellfish warden Dan Blount had informed Frank Day, who came to the Nov. 5 HSAB
meeting seeking permission for his daughter to get a late license, that he had to first file
such a request so it could be put on the agenda and that his daughter had to be at the
meeting to represent herself. However, Mr. Day did not heed Mr. Blount's advice and
showed up at the Nov. 5 meeting without having filed his paperwork and without his
daughter. Mr. Carlson said Ms. Day did file her paperwork a week later.
MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Mr. Carlson combined this report with his own under Natural Resources Report.
NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT
Status of Shellfish Management Plan implementation group — Jeff Carlson
Update on commercial scallop season — enforcement: JC Johnson or Jeff Carlson
and Tara Riley
Mr. Carlson reported that the scallop season was going really well and that as of Nov. 15,
the bushel count is around 3,000 bushel as compared with last year at this time with
1,080.5 bushels harvested, reminding the board that in 2012, there a fair amount of days
lost to bad weather including the storm that stranded seed up and down the inner harbor
shores in the second week of November. He added that improved tracking and data
collection methods this season is making count numbers more accurate. The weather has
also been great.
Mr. Carlson introduced Tim Mooney, a commercial scallop diver since 2001 who's been
mentoring two apprentice scallopers, one of which, Zachary McMullen, has completed
his 40 -day apprenticeship and who is seeking recognition from the board of completion
of his 40 days so he can start scalloping on his own. Mr. Brace noted that this should be
discussed under New Business.
Mr. Carlson reported that he did receive five or six applications for membership on
Shellfish Management Plan committee in addition to those that the HSAB appointed to
this new committee. Mr. Carlson announced the birth of Ms. Riley's and Mr. Herr's son,
Campbell, and that Ms. Riley, although on maternity leave, is out and about and available
on a limited basis for anyone who has questions for her. Mr. Carlson said that and he and
Mr. Johnson would sometime be taking turns throughout the winter attending HSAB
meeting. He also reported that the boathouse lab is almost closed down for the winter. He
then updated the board on the progress of the Shellfish Bylaw Review Workgroup in
producing a revised set of regulations for the Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board to
review in January followed by the Board of Selectmen.
Mr. Brace asked how many fishermen were scalloping at this point and Mr. Carlson said
anywhere between 35 and 50 boats a day depending on weather conditions. He added that
the a fair amount of the fleet has moved out to Madaket and just to the north of
Tuckernuck, but that the amounts of fishermen in town and out in the "Wild West" ebbs
and flows depending on weather.
Mr. Brace asked where scallopers were exploring other than the usual spots.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT
No public comment
OLD BUSINESS
Update - Morgan Day's apprenticeship — Jeff Carlson
See Chairman's Report.
Scallop shell reclamation — continuing discussion
Mr. Smith asked that Mr. Brace stop including the scallop shell reclamation item on
future agendas because he hasn't been getting anywhere with this idea.
Full -time town biologist position — continuing discussion
Mr. Carlson said that the town departments have submitted their budges to town
administration, which is drafting its budget and that anything new would then be
submitted to the Finance Committee for its budget review process and if the town
biologist position comes up in discussion at a FinCom meeting, that's when members of
the HSAB should attend the FinCom meetings to speak in support of this. He added that
he didn't know exactly when this would happen.
Mr. Brace said from his conversation with Selectmen Chairman Rick Atherton he is now
aware that the selectmen have heard the HSAB's numerous requests and understand that
this board does want a year -round town biologist primarily for water quality sampling
and analysis. Mr. Brace asked Mr. Carlson to remind the HSAB when its time to speak
before the FinCom was approaching so Mr. Brace could, with the board's blessing, write
a letter to the editor of the Inquirer & Mirror detailing for the public its reasoning for
filling this currently vacant position. Mr. Carlson said he'd keep the board abreast of
when it should attend relevant meetings on this issue.
Dr. Boyce asked Mr. Carlson who is currently staffing the Natural Resources Department.
Mr. Carlson said himself, JC Johnson, Dan Blount part-time, Ms. Riley, Leah Cabral (for
the winter). So, currently, the NRD has three fulltime employees.
NEW BUSINESS
Staffing shortage at Marine & Coastal Resources Department
Apprentice scallop divers — update — Tim Mooney
Wendy McCrae requested this agenda item because of Ms. Lucey's comments at the Nov.
5 meeting relating to the understaffed Marine Department, specifically, the need for more
qualified rescue boat operators. Mr. Carlson said Ms. Lucey does have the use of Dan
Blount part-time and use of two seasonal employees through the end of September.
Additionally, several police officers are getting trained in boat use and rescue. Dr. Boyce
noted that recently his boat engine died 100 yards off of 40`h Pole and because Ms. Lucey
was off island, there was no one at the Marine Department to come tow him back to the
harbor. Mr. Brace suggested that Dr. Boyce and other disabled boaters try to Coast Guard
to see if they could rescue him before trying to the other agencies.
As Ms. McCrae did not attend the Nov. 19 meeting, Mr. Brace suggested that this item be
added to the Dec. 3 agenda.
Scallop diver Tim Mooney's apprentices
Mr. Carlson said that Mr. Mooney has had two apprentices in the last calendar year
during last season and the current one, and that these two apprentices have completed
their 40 -day apprenticeship. Mr. Mooney asked if the 40 -day period applied to divers as
well. Mr. Smith said it does and the number should apply to both. He added that the
Shellfish Bylaw Review Workgroup should add this issue to its next meeting agenda.
Mr. Brace said he didn't recall hearing about either of these apprenticeships starting from
Mr. Carlson who said that typically, he doesn't inform the board when the
apprenticeships begin. Mr. Smith asked how many apprenticeships were currently active
during this season. Mr. Carlson said 18, but that not all of them are actively fishing. Mr.
Carlson detailed for the board why the apprenticeship program exists and how it works.
Mr. McMullen said he thought that for 30 of the 40 days of his apprenticeship he couldn't
take five bushels and that the during the last 10 days he could. Mr. Smith admitted to
being confused as well and Mr. Carlson said this is why the shellfish regulations are
being reviewed and revised.
Dr. Boyce said he hadn't heard of the 30 -day period Mr. McMullen spoke of and said he
recalled that the apprenticeship regulations he helped write allows the apprentice to
harvest five bushels a day during the 40 fishing days with his mentor.
Mr. Brace asked Mr. Mooney to tell the board generally, what a diver needs to know to
scallop alone underwater. Mr. Mooney told the board that a scallop diver must take and
pass a diver certification course including five open -water dives, become fluent on the
impacts on a diver's body including cold water slowing down their metabolism, nitrogen
building up in their blood stream, and how to remove the excess, monitoring their gauges,
dealing with having two or three bushels of scallops hanging in bags off their shoulders
while maintaining their buoyancy under water and what to do when their air supply runs
out.
Mr. Mooney continued, saying safety equipment is also covered including setting out the
diver down flag, checking the boat's anchor once the diver has reached the bottom and
then finding the scallops and determining adults from seed, as underwater everything is
magnified by three. Additionally, said Mooney, apprentices have to learn how to operate
underwater in a dry suit in which a bubble of air can develop and upend a diver if it
reaches their feet along with using a full -face mask. When Mr. McMullen gets his dry
suit and full -face mask, Mr. Mooney requires that he spend time him learning how to use
these new pieces of diving equipment.
Mr. Brace asked if commercial scallop divers only fish after the dredging scallopers are
for the day. Mr. Mooney said he instructs his apprentices on how to dive for scallops
while the dredgers are operating. He added that he teaches his charges to scallop
upstream of the dredgers so they can see the scallops, as being downstream of the
dredging means the scallops are hidden in a cloud of debris. He also teaches his students
to hug the bottom when they're six feet or deeper if a boat is coming and come to the
surface if they're six feet or deeper. Mr. Brace asked how many divers going now. Mr.
Mooney said three.
Mr. Brace asked Mr. Mooney about Mr. McMullen's competence as a commercial
scallop diver. Mr. Mooney said he thought Mr. McMullen needs a couple more dives, to
spend more time practicing getting in and out his boat and on doing anchor checks.
Overall, Mr. Mooney said Mr. McMullen is an excellent diver, but he wants him to
become more natural in the water before signing off on him. Mr. Brace asked Mr.
McMullen if thought his mentor's assessment of his abilities was accurate. Mr.
McMullen said yes.
Dr. Boyce noted there was a difference between the board agreeing that Mr. McMullen
had met all of his apprentice requirements and Mooney signing off on his diving abilities.
Mr. Carlson said this is one of the issues that the SBRW needs to deal with. Mr. Brace
asked Mr. Mooney to attend the SBRW's next meeting. Mr. Mooney said he wanted the
board to feel comfortable with approving Mr. McMullen as a commercial scallop diver.
Mr. Carlson said the board is within its rights to authorize Mr. McMullen's commercial
scallop license because he's completed his 40 days with the condition that he get the
extra equipment and dive training from Mr. Mooney. Dr. Boyce said he's comfortable
with voting in the affirmative to this effect — this is his motion — but is still unsure how
the board would have proof that Mr. McMullen has the necessary diving skills. Mr. Smith
seconded Dr. Boyce's motion with the caveat of if anyone on the board feels Mr.
McMullen needs to do eight more fishing days with his new full -face diving mask. The
board voted 5 -0 to grant Mr. McMullen his commercial scallop license with the
understanding that he complete the rest of his skills training with Mr. Mooney.
Dr. Boyce alerted the board to the work of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute students
on putting all of the town's water quality data into town's GIS system and suggested that
this group come speak on their efforts at the next HSAB meeting.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT
RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
ADJOURN
Unanimously approved
Future Meetings:
Dec. 3 and Dec. 17
Respectfully Submitted,
Peter B. Brace, Chairman