Board emphasizes compliance with 35-pound dredge-weight rule; staff to assist fishers with dry weighing

Advisory board members and commercial fishermen discussed enforcement of the town's 35-pound dredge-weight regulation and the growing use of Chatham-style (chain-sweep) dredges.

The issue surfaced at a Select Board meeting in September and again at the Oct. 21 advisory meeting after fishers worried some newer dredge designs might exceed the local 35-pound dry-weight limit. Board members and staff reported that outreach (an email to fishermen) and voluntary dry weighing had addressed many concerns: some fishers said they had pared down dredge weight and that the constable (JC) is available to weigh dredges.

"Nobody cared about the 35 pounds because with the old style dredge, guys would throw a sash weight on it and pull the sash weight off or whatever. You don't throw sash weights on a pressure plate dredge," a board member said during debate; other fishers described towing fewer, lighter Chatham-style dredges and said the newer gear can reduce grass and sand uptake when designed and towed properly.

Board members urged fishermen to dry-weigh dredges before the season and to get the constable's sign-off and suggested standardizing a dry-weigh procedure and retaining baseline marks to avoid repeated full re-weighing in future seasons. Town staff said they will collect information this year on the number and types of dredges in use to support ongoing impact assessments.

Ending

The board did not vote on new regulations; it endorsed outreach and a practical enforcement approach: fishers should dry-weigh gear, coordinate with the constable for pre-season sign-off, and document baseline weights so enforcement can be consistent during the season.