Garrett Friedrichson, a Norwalk resident and former commercial fisherman, told the Norwalk Shellfish Commission that a large commercial suction-dredge vessel worked in Wilton Cove in mid-October and left extensive turbidity that affected local fishing. “The effluent…was just unloading mud into the water,” Friedrichson said, and the result, he said, “was turning crystal clear Norwalk waters into mud for the rest of the fall.”

The comment came during the commission’s public-comment time; commissioners said they do not have a quorum to take formal action at the meeting but would record the complaint and pass it to staff. “I’ll put it in the notes for the meeting minutes, and we’ll pass it. I’ll make sure he gets it,” a commission member said.

Commissioners and others suggested several next steps: notify the Bureau of Aquaculture, ask the marine police whether they had been aware of the vessel, and contact local commercial harvesters. Sergeant Pisaglia and others on the call discussed whether local harbor-management officials or the vessel operator (identified in the discussion as a large commercial boat sometimes associated with Bloom Brothers) had been notified. The commission agreed to forward the public comment to staff for follow-up and to ask the Bureau of Aquaculture for any guidance or information.

The statement to the commission described impacts on recreational fishing (including blackfish and blue-claw crab catches) and asked whether timing of commercial dredging could be adjusted later in the season to allow more recreational access; no formal request or regulatory motion was filed at the meeting. Commissioners noted the issue lies partly with commercial harvest timing and said it may also involve private harvesters’ practices.

Because the commission lacked a quorum, no formal directives or votes were taken; commissioners recorded the public comment and assigned staff to pass the information to Steve (staff) and to seek comment from the Bureau of Aquaculture and local harbor management. The public commenter said he would also consider contacting the harvester directly.