[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6244568,"mediaKeyId","3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca","parentId",3229368,"title","Board raises concerns about steamship slips and emergency alternatives; notes Steamship Authority is a state entity","audioSeconds",172,"startMs",1546000,"endMs",1718000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca&start=1546&end=1718","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244568/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Board-raises-concerns-about-steamship-slips-and-emergency-alternatives-notes-Steamship-Authority-is-a-state-entity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244568-fae7f358f3e4737006678e1882793bbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=K8JwIiMjp4Qy-rkTJ8HPeuvVD7uH92VrdbTSGowhEBSLPTyX1Oo-EehTzbJhS2AJXtNzCJ35cx7Btz7eOD~I~FvgrEo1bgxB3bxR3rBjaAdFxLaCj8eNpWuS1sZAtmbXP5Mv3QMtF7nvYmrtHNGBISbjkusUReuTmGhxVnkxtQhav1oC~s44TDbR~CTz5vHsAbDvdTJsvUHq~KMO9pOzUWtBgd5gtLV0ZyL2V1i4xTeyTpBERs5p8mPqh~0yxGg3OUjUsMZN6oYRn0b8T3nFVd7IjFtIuNJUCjxA7PQvr1hLODt7qeM94jUacR38GDBR3PRRmhUkL6pgT3JlGgSTVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-05-08T13:14:17Z","article","Board members discussed harbor resilience after recent issues with Steamship Authority slips and emphasized the need for alternative offloading options.

Board members said losing one or both steamship slips would create immediate logistical problems for food and freight delivery. One participant noted the harbor plan included an alternative commercial pier and said that a second slip or alternative offload site is important for emergency preparedness.

The board discussed jurisdiction: the Steamship Authority is a state entity and decisions about restoring service would require state-level involvement; the harbor master can close the port for safety reasons (for example, oil spills or accidents) but does not have authority to direct the Steamship Authority’s operational decisions. Members recalled past incidents, including a fast ferry that nearly sank after being pushed onto rocks in a strong wind, to underscore the operational risk.

Members asked staff to continue advancing harbor-plan elements addressing alternative offload capability and to keep contingency planning on future agendas. No formal motion was made at this meeting to alter harbor infrastructure plans.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council on Aging - 5/7/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members discussed risks if the town loses steamship slips, urged contingency planning including a second commercial pier in the harbor plan, and clarified jurisdictional limits: the Steamship Authority is a state entity and the harbor master can close the port but does not control the Steamship Authority.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244573,"Advisory board discusses bycatch limits, shellfish closure areas and pending town regulation amendments",143,577000,720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca&start=577&end=720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca/thumbnail_577000.jpg","/articles/6244573/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Advisory-board-discusses-bycatch-limits-shellfish-closure-areas-and-pending-town-regulation-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244573-85a28e1e11a0abc627f34d4cc54af820/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=csGhARnKt76gisRLIIEaf8byWXoYTr7~SKthyB7J4XX5W-XRo6fAn8uzVbcXNiEcRECSP5rmz5rAqibAEIp7D77Omw99Xe2gueYxQHn1Zu4VY8xTcZCTOB62dO73IeVf9vGelKXXWKNKi4PbAhegFoFqulVA94RmCD3uas0fWIKAT2ZR2hx8M7uznMxfLT9YaU8xDXAP2fD-LQ-VqpT~IDxe-ccFJHDgx4Lts2CP68ojBoRBTTZBbLNFt5koSGGdp1PdYTyeB62keJ0BWwsY5KahYApo~8cfJJ9TdJ~unzhNFaBu3vQp8ym~p9nUeYSSD-osFT0aZyGlvLzx8zFvtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board discussed how town regulation language should handle bycatch taken in shellfish closure areas and asked staff to track draft amendments with town counsel.

Tara Riley said the draft amendments to the town shellfish regulations were sent to town counsel after the board previously approved a draft; she said staff will request a status update and timeline from counsel. The board agreed to keep the item on future agendas until town-council review is complete.

Members focused on a recurring question: how to treat bycatch taken from a contaminated or closed area. Several board members said the regulation should make clear that if a person fishes in the closure area on a given day, they may not retain any bycatch for the remainder of that day in order to avoid commingling shellfish from contaminated waters with legal harvest from other areas. One board member noted that bycatch is often given away rather than sold, but members said public-health and traceability concerns support a clear prohibition on retaining bycatch taken in a closure area.

The board also discussed dinghy regulations, mentioning proposals that dinghies carry identifying names and phone numbers and that the draft regulation language be circulated for review. Members asked staff to invite relevant town personnel (for example, Sheila) to a future meeting to discuss dinghy-dock and overcrowding concerns and to circulate the updated draft regulations prior to the next meeting.

No formal regulation changes were adopted at the meeting; Riley said she will follow up with town counsel and have Jeff or appropriate staff propose specific regulatory amendments if counsel has not completed its review.

","Members discussed clarity needed in town shellfish regulations about bycatch retention when fishing in contaminated or closed areas, agreed to request town-council review status of drafted amendments, and suggested adding dinghy identification rules to future agendas.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244578,"Board hears report of vehicles, drone disturbing seals at Smith's Point; environmental police notified",44,431000,475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca&start=431&end=475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6244578/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Board-hears-report-of-vehicles-drone-disturbing-seals-at-Smiths-Point-environmental-police-notified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244578-3a4ce961831d0ba5c091951c5a922f1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688440&Signature=JdOY7UczEwk0ja9St9OiZktn8HM6AqyPF49VtnZ0IQyGGW21cyevEXBgYEVfAMnoGzxCcxY70GWLyN-Hy-qdDMb1EkBSaC14tJaUMPbj~Z1kiZhnSqKruY1MwSN9KH6ixZ8QFgiiL7MXZTM59le5OWtnRGx~5QkeQ0sK5a0OOgcMj0RRtOyLP6rZZczg-Ur2xAMQf4pC10rNkokAOqz76URtob0jeXAidhvIAu2bu4JVT4tTsKTg9omcev6OamRZ4kJOGtLqAued~nETA2Va767N8yL2C4CPL5fOSuGmw4GDgTYEyXyVZKsKMhlEPsIQhhwVOT84pJX12LOFYLuPEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tara Riley reported that trustees and staff documented people driving on parts of Smith’s Point and flying a drone near seal concentrations, and said the town has notified enforcement.

\"I understand from Vince, Murphy that, they drove, partially on Townland and partially on Land owned by the guys in the last house out there,\" Riley said, describing video evidence staff had reviewed. She told the board trustees and staff recorded license-plate numbers and that environmental police had been notified.

Riley also reported an incident where visitors were on Great Point and a seagull was struck; trustees and staff intervened and asked the people to leave the property. Board members noted that if shorebirds such as piping plovers were harmed, that is a federal matter and could carry additional enforcement implications.

The board discussed using available video for educational outreach on proper conduct around wildlife. No enforcement outcomes were announced at the meeting; Riley said she did not have further details about the extent of vehicle damage at Smith’s Point and that the environmental police and town enforcement were following up.

","Natural resources staff said trustees and staff documented vehicles driving on Town land at Smith's Point, a drone flown near seals and an apparent scuffle where a seagull was killed; license plates were recorded and environmental police were notified.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244583,"Harbor Shellfish advisory board: hatchery busy, scallop surveys start and board votes to seek $50,000 state shellfish funding",183,65000,248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca&start=65&end=248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229368-54a885614539988f0d337f08f3e29eca/thumbnail_65000.jpg","/articles/6244583/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Harbor-Shellfish-advisory-board-hatchery-busy-scallop-surveys-start-and-board-votes-to-seek-50000-state-shellfish-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244583-4ce22df54da5953d2dc14cdfd80fbf6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775688441&Signature=WnFq4lgV0q9UGxsE6rTzjBgrBL-wzcz9YXHjS0MD19fHVPOx3RrGshDqAZBz4ZfPyaFDbDSEb32OL5jKjOyWidNuXGPSh0QPDeqRnLXqwJcMcDJu1YU-f4j53~qh6qZM5WduGn-un1idS8o3N2QYxFUlNES1CLyQl34PRSoHCD1aMYUCk9YyfeGKf6llQ~GN2aOGph8t6e2xGtB-xfDQlQF2Bgn56YD39WPYaF-GV4BSFNh2RVCoE2VYurDtBNq5XrGYiP3Uzh6REAjsWHQLfAbUiUnJdGKeobr0CPBlsw0pjoXiZ5o~7kqtpIpjHp8hiYcvEuNPkHQ8xAx1IxS9Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tara Riley, natural resources staff for the Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board, reported the hatchery’s spring work and asked the board to support outreach for state shellfish funding.

On April 24, we had our first oyster spawn, and they are going to be 12 days old tomorrow, Riley said. She told the board the hatchery will produce oyster singles and spat-on-shell, will begin a second set of spring dive surveys on Monday, May 12 to assess scallop abundance at 20 of 40 sites, and will start a scallop spawn once interns arrive.

The details matter because the dive surveys will track overwinter mortality and inform fall surveys, Riley said, and the eelgrass management plan is now in draft and under internal review; the eelgrass working group meets every other Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Riley told members the town typically receives $50,000 annually in state shellfish funding that is targeted for propagation and shellfish use, but that money was not included in the current budget. She said she was coordinating with colleagues on Cape and Islands outreach to try to get the item reintroduced in the Senate budget and suggested SHAB provide letters in support.

At the meeting, Board Member Peter Brace moved that Peter Brace begin drafting a letter to state officials seeking restoration of the $50,000 shellfish line item; the motion was seconded by Board Member Bossy and approved unanimously (Anderson, Bossy, Sherwin, Brace, Franzuto voted Aye). The board requested Riley provide a template and indicated members could send individual letters as well.

Riley also reported that aquaculture lease renewals were approved at last Wednesday’s Select Board meeting for 10-year terms and that an aquaculture meeting for growers had been held to coordinate practices.

The board placed the pending town shellfish regulation amendments on its agenda to track town-council review; Riley said staff would contact town counsel to request a status update and a likely timeline for review. Members asked Riley to circulate any prior letters or templates used when funding was not included in earlier budgets.

Less critical details: fourth graders from Nantucket Intermediate School will visit the hatchery as part of a STEM tour; staff noted elevated harbor water temperatures (around 55°F reported recently) and said the hatchery will monitor for summer mortality risks. The next board meetings are May 20 and June 3; members asked Riley to circulate materials ahead of meetings.

","Natural resources staff reported an active hatchery season (oyster spawn, upcoming scallop spawn and dive surveys) and an eelgrass management draft; the board voted to ask staff to prepare a letter supporting a $50,000 state shellfish line item that was left out of the budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board raises concerns about steamship slips and emergency alternatives; notes Steamship Authority is a state entity

Advisory board discusses bycatch limits, shellfish closure areas and pending town regulation amendments

Board hears report of vehicles, drone disturbing seals at Smith's Point; environmental police notified

Harbor Shellfish advisory board: hatchery busy, scallop surveys start and board votes to seek $50,000 state shellfish funding