Harbor board unanimously clarifies 2025 conch season for Nantucket Harbor, asks staff to notify Natural Resources

The Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board voted unanimously May 20 to clarify that the 2025 conch season is the odd-year season for Nantucket Harbor and to ask town staff to amend the draft regulation to reflect that wording.

Board members said the change is intended to prevent a fisherman who invested in gear from being required to remove his equipment midseason. The board asked that Natural Resources and Erica at the town be notified so the language can be corrected before town council posts the regulations for public review.

Board members discussed how the odd/even harbor-year wording slipped through prior reviews. Dave (chair) said Dan, a local fisherman, called immediately and was “pretty upset” after being told he might have to remove gear. Members described the swap as a “simple fix” but one that should be corrected before the regulations reach the town council and the required three-week public posting.

Motion and vote: the board moved to clarify that the 2025 conch season is the odd-year Nantucket Harbor season and to request Natural Resources and Erica be notified of the change. The motion carried unanimously: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Bossie, Mr. DeCosta, Mr. Sherlund, Mr. Brace, Mr. Franzuda and Chair Dave voted yes. Chair Dave said, “It’s unanimous.”

Board members emphasized this action is a wording correction to the draft regulations, not a new policy; they asked staff to verify the scheduled town council review and to request the swap be made before the regulations are posted for public comment.

The board placed the clarification on the record so the town’s formal regulatory review can proceed with the corrected harbor-year assignment.