Select Board approves changes to shellfish fines and adds intertidal harvesting restriction; reissues license #851

The Select Board approved several shellfish-related regulatory and permitting items during its July 7 meeting.

License reissue: The board reissued shellfish grant license number 851 to reflect a name change and approved the reissue by roll-call vote with no public opposition.

Fines for gear violations: The board adopted an amendment to section 7.19.0.6 to change how fines for gear violations are issued—moving from daily citations to weekly cumulative citations that total the same maximum ($350/week) but are issued after the first seven days of noncompliance rather than daily. The change was made to reduce administrative burdens (certified mail costs and repeated processing) and to strengthen deterrence; the amendment passed 5–0.

Intertidal-harvesting restriction: The board added section 4.15.0.1, clarifying that all wild shellfish harvested on intertidal flats must be removed from the area at the time of harvest and may not be left on the flats for later collection. Board members discussed using the term “intertidal flats” to avoid ambiguity; the motion as amended passed 5–0.

Shellfish Department staff spoke during the hearings to explain the rationale and practical effect of the changes. The shellfish official said the previous daily-ticket process created unnecessary cost and waste of effort and that the weekly approach would maintain the same cumulative penalty while reducing administrative burdens.

What’s next: The adopted regulation changes are effective per town procedures and will be reflected in the town’s shellfishing policy and regulations; license reissue will be processed as recorded.