Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Select Board raises commercial scallop bushel limit to six; Harbor Shellfish board plans data-driven review
Loading...
Summary
The Select Board unanimously approved increasing the commercial scallop bushel limit to six; Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board discussed making the change seasonal or front-loading openings and asked Natural Resources staff (Tara) to provide survey data to consider raising the limit to seven.
The Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board on Feb. 3 recapped a Select Board decision to raise the commercial bay scallop limit to six bushels and discussed next steps, scientific data needs and recreational access.
Chair told members the Select Board "easily passed unanimously" to increase the commercial limit to six bushels, and said the board authorized Tara, Natural Resources staff, "to make it 7 if she finds that suitable." Members said the freeze earlier in the season had limited harvest opportunities but noted two commercial harvests produced 10 boxes total that same day.
Board members urged a proactive, data-driven approach. Peter and other members stressed the importance of Tara's dive-survey data (spring and fall sites) to justify any further change in limits or timing. Dave and others said the fishery has a much smaller fleet today than decades ago and argued the board should consider front-loading the season or adjusting limits to reflect current fishing patterns.
Public commenters raised two related points: one resident argued the town's lower limit (previously five) can constrain earnings because state law allows up to 10 boxes by license; another commenter from the Nantucket Shellfish Association emphasized the value of restoring "Nantucket Bay scallops" branding to support market access.
The board agreed to put fuller discussion on the next agenda, request Tara's survey schedule and data, and consider regulation changes (which would require Select Board or town-level action as appropriate) informed by the forthcoming data.
The Select Board action referenced by the board is external to this advisory board; the Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board recorded the Select Board outcome and will use staff data to advise any local regulatory changes.
