Shellfish Committee votes to match Yarmouth and open Bass River Oct. 1 for this season

The Shellfish Committee in Dennis voted on Sept. 18 to recommend matching Yarmouth’s planned Oct. 1 scallop opening for Bass River and the sound for this season. Committee members discussed conflicting goals—protecting meat quality versus avoiding a competitive disadvantage if neighboring towns open earlier—and approved a one-time change that can be reversed in a future meeting.

The committee’s constable reported that Yarmouth intends to open Oct. 1 and said they had not yet observed many live scallops from shore. The constable relayed opposition from a longtime harvester, saying, “the meats get plumper as the water gets cooler,” a point offered as a reason to prefer the traditional Nov. 1 opening. Other members countered that if Yarmouth opens earlier local harvesters could be disadvantaged and argued the committee should allow local harvesters the same opportunity.

After discussion, a member moved to recommend changing Bass River’s opening to Oct. 1 for this season; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with ayes recorded. Members said the change would be a one-time adjustment and could be changed back in a subsequent vote next year.

The committee did not record a detailed implementation timeline or list staffing steps during the meeting. No formal ordinance number or regulatory text was cited at the meeting; members characterized the change as a recommended adjustment to this year’s opening date. The committee did not report seeing a substantial number of scallops from shore during the meeting.

The committee also noted that Cape Cod Bay historically opens Nov. 1 and that Nantucket typically opens later; members said the committee will continue to monitor conditions and may revisit the opening date in future meetings.