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Natural resources staff reports spring dive survey, eelgrass plan draft and scallop spawn troubles
Summary
Natural Resources staff told the Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board that a spring dive survey covered 24 sites, hatchery oyster and scallop work continues, and an eelgrass management plan draft will be posted for public review ahead of a July 1 target date.
Tara Riley of the town’s Natural Resources Department reported June 3 that staff completed a spring dive survey May 13–16 covering 24 sites and that data are being compiled. She said many scallops remained in the harbor during the survey.
Riley described recent hatchery activity: the department spawned oysters in May, moved oyster singles to outdoor systems, ran a scallop spawn that produced “undersized eggs,” and had staff diving to collect scallops with mature gonads for a follow‑up spawn. “This time…we ended up with a lot of undersized eggs, which I haven't really seen before,” Riley said, and staff were targeting shallower, warmer areas to find scallops with ripe gonads ahead of the June 12 spawn.
Riley also said Natural Resources has an eelgrass management plan draft under academic review and will publish a public draft on the department’s aquatic‑habitat webpage with a two‑week comment window; she said the town is targeting a July 1 finalization but called the timeline aggressive and described the plan as a working document that could be revised in the fall. “We are going to hold a public session,” she said, and staff are deciding whether the meeting will be in person, on Zoom or a hybrid.
Outreach and staffing: Riley reported recent education work, including visits by the Nantucket Intermediate School fourth grade and Mariah Mitchell staff and new interns, plus outreach planned for Oysterfest. She said interns began training and the department is coordinating eelgrass and habitat review with regional experts.
What this means: the eelgrass plan will be part of the harbor‑plan process and will be routed through the select board for formal adoption. Riley emphasized protecting existing eelgrass as a top priority because restoration projects have low success rates and protection is more effective.
Questions: board members asked Riley to circulate the draft; Riley said she would send copies on request and that Urban Harbors Institute is the contracted firm doing the harbor plan work that will incorporate the eelgrass language. Several members asked who would formally adopt the plan; Riley said it will go through the select board.
