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Board reviews proposed shellfish regulation change: conch harvest to alternate between Nantucket and Madaket
Summary
The Natural Resources Department presented a revised draft of town shellfish regulations that would prohibit commercial whelk/conch harvest in Nantucket Harbor on even‑numbered years and in Madaket Harbor on odd‑numbered years; the draft will go to town council for review and, likely, a select board public hearing in July.
Natural Resources staff told the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board on June 3 that town counsel reviewed a draft amendment to town shellfish regulations and suggested a small edit to fines language; otherwise the draft is ready to be routed through the town process.
The revision read to the board replaces prior wording with two sentences: “Prohibition of harvest in Nantucket and Madaket Harbors. Commercial harvest of whelk/conch prohibited in Nantucket Harbor on even numbered years and prohibited in Madaket Harbor on odd numbered years. A schedule of closures will be approved by the town of Nantucket or its designee.”
Why it matters: board members said the change will align the harvest schedule with local practices and avoid mid‑season disruptions to individual commercial fishers. Natural Resources staff said the draft will go to the select board for a public hearing once the town advertises it; staff estimated the earliest public hearing would be in July.
Clarifications raised at the meeting: members asked whether individual fishers (named in public comment as Dan/Kronk) would be able to fish during the interim. Tara Riley said the individual currently had arrangements and would “be good to go” under current practice; the revised language and adoption would formalize the schedule moving forward. Riley said town counsel asked for more specificity about fines and that staff would add that language before the select board submission.
Next steps: Natural Resources will finalize the minor edits requested by town counsel and forward the draft to the select board for advertisement and a public hearing. Board members asked to be notified when the hearing is posted.
No vote was taken by the advisory board at this meeting; the item remains in the town review and adoption process.
