Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board recommends raising commercial scallop bushel limit to 7 starting Feb. 23

The Harbor Shellfish Advisory Board voted Feb. 17 to recommend that Natural Resources raise the commercial bay scallop bushel limit from 6 to 7 per license, effective Feb. 23, to help commercial scalpers recoup harvest lost to winter weather.

Board members and staff debated sustainability and practical effects before the formal recommendation. Chair summarized the rationale as compensating for roughly 15 lost fishing days this winter, and members said several local fishermen reported strong seed counts and productive days during recent openings. Mister Anderson moved the recommendation; Mister Franzura seconded, and the motion carried with Mister Sherwin recorded as abstaining.

Staff member Tara, who presented data and field observations, said she did not believe a change to 7 bushels would be materially different from the current 6-per-license limit “from, like, a resource standpoint,” and said the department supports adjustments that are sustainable for the fishery. A local fisherman who identified himself as Dylan Wallace told the board he and a mate landed 12 boxes by 10:30 a.m. on a recent morning and reported roughly a 10-to-1 seed-to-adult ratio, which members said is a promising sign for next season.

Some board members urged caution. Several said they would prefer to hear from more commercial fishermen before permanently changing season rules, and others noted that changes to recreational-day openings (Monday/Tuesday) are constrained by a town bylaw that requires a town-meeting vote to alter days of the week for recreational scalloping. Staff and members agreed that changes to recreational calendars and broader regulatory updates should be discussed in the off-season so residents and wardens can be consulted.

The board recommended that Natural Resources implement the bushel increase beginning Feb. 23 and notify license holders; staff said they would send emails to the scalloping community to announce the change if Natural Resources acts on the recommendation. The board set no additional regulatory amendments at the meeting and left more complex changes—such as altering days open to recreational scalloping—for future consideration.

The board's next meeting is March 3, 2026; the Harbormaster and Natural Resources staff will continue outreach to fishermen and provide follow-up information to the board.