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Home My WebLink About2012-11-20Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board November 20th 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Chuck Connors, Bill Blount, Wendy McCrae, Peter Brace, Michael Glowacki, Doug Smith. Members Absent: Dr. Boyce Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson, Others: Police Chief Pittman, Matt Herr, Emma Macaire, Mike Lindley, Doug Lindley CALL TO ORDER 5:00 P.M. APPROVAL OF AGENDA We added an addition to the agenda. Under new business a late entry scalloping license request was added for Mike Lindley. The new Agenda was unanimously approved APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 16th minutes unanimously approved November 6th minutes unanimously approved CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Selectmen to present their FY14 general fund recommendations on Dec. 5th Mr. Brace asked that HSAB members Please attend the BOS meeting on Dec. 5`h at 6pm in this room (conference room, 4 Fairgrounds Rd.). Chief Pittman echoed what Mr. Brace said saying that the Dec. 5h meeting is where HSAB would want to have our arguments heard. MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Seed Stranding wrap -up Sheila and Jeff Sheila Lucey: The Marine Department was notified on Friday about the stranding. Jeff Carlson made up a flyer to be placed on fishermen's vehicles asking for them to help out move seed after they had finished fishing. These cards never got distributed because there was a vessel in distress, taking on water off of first bend and that required the immediate help of the Harbormaster and marine department. Chief Pittman had Maria Davis make phone calls to every fisherman they had on their roster notifying them of the stranding and that people would be meeting at the lifesaving museum the following morning. There was a good turn out of both fisherman and regular citizens wanting to help out. The three major areas that were being worked were, Fulling Mill Road, Pocomo Point and the UMASS field station. The seed was being moved both by boat and by truck. There were several scallop boats ferrying fish totes of seed to larger boats such as Bobby Decosta's fishing boat Albacore, Matt Herr's Jean Marie, The Harbormasters boat and Neil Cocker had access to a large aluminum landing craft that was also used. People without boats were using trucks to take fish totes of seed to the children's beach boat ramp, transferring them to larger boats that would take the seed out to deeper waters. Approximately 4,000 Bushels were put back into the water. Ms. Lucey explained that the fishermen need to have a much better response next time and have better organization. Scallop season update — Sheila Approximately 1180.5 bushels have been landed thus far. Ms. Lucey asked that people who don't get checked call the check in number and let them know what they landed. General Storm Report — The town piers floating dock was destroyed by the nor'easter. More then three quarters of it was completely destroyed. The money to fix the pier would come from the water ways improvement fund. The town is looking at better alternatives for the floating dock, such as concrete rather then wood. Chief Pittman said they want to get this done right, rather then having to patch it up every time it gets damaged. The storm caused 9 boats to break off their moorings and go on the beach. Chief Pittman said that they will be repairing Millie's bridge in Madaket soon. It will be done in a manner that makes it useable to cars although they may have to wait for short period of time while they replace planks. Chief Pittman said it would be wise for fishermen who use the bridge now to move their operation to the F Street pier to avoid having to wait. NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Seed Move Jeff Carlson Jeff echoed Sheila and said that he would also like to see in the future a more organized approach to seed strandings and more fishermen involved. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Mr. Herr said he thought the number of bushels landed thus far (1,180.5) reported by the marine department wasn't accurate. Mr. Herr commented that if 50 boats went out for a single limit that would be 250 bushels per day, it's now Nov. 20'' and that would put us in the 2,000 bushel range. Plus, a lot of boats are going for double limits which would make that number even higher. Mr. Herr would like to know where the numbers are coming from and how to make them more accurate. OLD BUSINESS Possible shellfish bylaw changes Next meeting Chief Pittman will have some recommendations for us to review regarding shellfish bylaw changes. NEW BUSINESS Seed stranding team rescue protocol discussion Mr. Smith suggests that the red flag should be used as a method to get more fishermen involved in seed strandings. Mr. Smith said that this resource is too valuable to leave up to a group of volunteers. Matt Herr suggests that we inform people that because the harbor doesn't hold the amount of eelgrass that it once had, that seed strandings are going to be more of a problem in the future then they were in the past. Mr. Herr suggests a more proactive response when storms that could potentially cause a stranding are predicted. Mr. Herr mentioned possibly raise the red flag when a stranding could take place and not give the all clear signal until the beaches are checked and the seed (if any) are put back into the water. Mr. Brace thinks we should make this a priority and place it on the website near the hurricane preparedness section. Mr. Brace suggests FACEBOOK as a good tool to keep people informed about strandings. Also NPR, the Inky Mirror and the new radio station WAZK 977 would also serve very useful. Mike Lindley's request for late start scalloping License. Mr. Lindley presented a letter to the board that explained he was in the Marine Corps serving his country when the deadline to purchase the license ran out. He said he would be scalloping with his father Doug Lindley and has been doing so since he was a young boy. Ms. McCrae made a motion to support Mr. Lindley's request the motion was seconded by Mr. Connors and unanimously approved. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT No public comment RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Preparation for Dec. 5d' BOS Meeting ADJOURN Unanimously approved Future Meetings: Dec. 3rd (Meeting at 4:30pm) Dec. 18d' Respectfully Submitted, Chuck Connors, Secretary