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Advisory board debates making up scallop fishing days lost to cold; places placeholder with Select Board to consider 6‑box option
Summary
Fishermen reported four to five scallop days lost to cold weather; the board discussed adding Saturday fishing, extra bushels or extending the season and voted to place a placeholder on the Jan. 21 Select Board agenda to consider raising the per‑fisher box limit to six as a potential remedy.
Board members and fishermen debated how to compensate scallop harvesters for days lost to cold weather. Several fishermen reported four to five missed harvesting days so far this winter and urged measures so harvesters can regain income; suggestions included adding Saturday fishing, adding a bushel allowance later in the season or extending the season.
Natural resources staff (Tara Ryland) said the department is still collecting November and December bushel landing data and recommended waiting for those figures before suggesting a specific remedy. Fishermen and board members expressed divergent views: some favored an extra box added now or adding bushels as the season progresses, while others warned that changing limits could affect wholesale prices.
To expedite consideration the board voted to place a placeholder on the Jan. 21 Select Board agenda to request that the Select Board consider an increase to a six‑box limit should the advisory board decide at its next meeting to pursue that option. The motion to put the placeholder on the Select Board agenda was made by Mister Franzuto and seconded by Mister Anderson and carried unanimously.
What’s next: Natural resources staff will deliver finalized bushel counts for November–December to inform the advisory board’s recommendation; the board’s placeholder on the Select Board agenda will allow faster action if members vote to pursue a temporary increase.
