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Select board reviews shellfish ordinance changes; removes night‑harvesting prohibition
Summary
Board members reviewed redlined edits to the shellfish ordinance including renaming a position, adding a survey definition, changing notice procedures and, notably, removing the prohibition on night shellfish harvesting per Department of Marine Resources recommendations.
The select board reviewed proposed edits to the town's shellfish ordinance and agreed to updated language recommended by the Department of Marine Resources (DMR).
Staff walked the board through multiple edits: renaming 'area biologist' to 'marine resource scientist,' adding a definition for grid (shellfish) surveys consistent with DMR protocol, adjusting recreational license wording, and changing public‑notice requirements to allow publication in a newspaper or trade publication the municipal officers deem effective. "Number 8 would be the big deal — striking out the prohibition on night shellfish harvesting," the town administrator said, adding that many of the other changes reflected DMR recommendations to keep the ordinance in sync with state rules.
Board members discussed formatting, numbering and whether to repeal and replace the ordinance language to avoid attaching the full 15‑page prior text. The board instructed staff to prepare the corrected version for signature and inclusion on the warrant packet for the upcoming town meeting.
