7/12/2011 WATERWAYS COMMISSION Minutes

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x , I I MASWEE WATERWAYS-COMNUSSION. MINUTES OF JULY 129 2011 MEETING Meeting was called to order by Chairman Ren Bates at 9:05 Ali in meeting room 3,Town lull. Present were Ren Bates,Tire Leedham,Bill Taylor, Steve Pinard Also present Rick York, Shellfish Constable A► motion to approve the meeting minutes of the last meeting was made by Steve Pinard, seconded by Bill Taylor and unanimously approved. i Committee 1prts Shellfish Deport: Rick York: Shellfishing for quahogs is very active. We got 11000 oyster spat bags from the hatchery and-put them in trays in the Marshpee River- The 3 million quahog seed from the hatchery are growing In the upwellers and trays in Little River. on June 207 the Shellfish Commission had a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen to hear a presentation' from Gr g'Sawyer of the III'l ss.'Division of Ul6rine Fisheries (DMF about their program of relays of contaminated quahogs from the Taunton River. The agenda item was requested by the Fish, Wildlife and [Natural Resources Commission (F NRC) of the l lashpee Wampanoag Tribe. I stated that l arra not in favor of contaminated shellfish relays primarily because It is an enforcement problem. The relay area must be-closed for 3 months to a year depending on when planting occurs. The relayed quahogs are planted In high densities that are easy t -take illegally unobserved particularly on foggy nights. When I was first appointed In April 1992, l inherited a shellfish relay at the in Popponesset Bay that my predecessor had planted in 19 91. - f the 300 or more-buheis,of quahog that were relayed, I found less than 3 bushels. There were no shells and the area was still closed. The quahogs were most likely taken illegally while the area was closed_ Also, the relayed shellfish do not remove much nitrogen (most of the . nitrogen would come from the Taunton River) compared to growing quahogs from small seed in our waters. We have plenty of quahogs anyway. In addition to seeding from our propagation program, there was a big set of quahogs in 11aquoit Bay in 2009 that acre I ittlenecks and large seed now. We observed extremely high numbers of quahog larvae in 2009 that had relatively good survival and growth. The experienced commercial shell-fishermen in 1 arquoit-Bay are usually getting their 3 bushel daily limit in about 4 to 8 hours now. Harbourmaster Report: Rick York advised that the selection process for a new Harbormaster is continuing and we should have a new Harbormaster by our next meeting. Popponesset Bay: Tire L edham reported that the Bay has been very active with many families enjoying the area. Tim also noted that during last weeks WQ Test the water clarity seemed much unproved vs, past years including Shoestring Bay. The spit was also well populated with people en jo in the day. wacl oit Bay: Rick York reported that similar to Popponesset Bay report existed on � Wacluoit Bay as well, Water Quality: Steve Pinard reported that last weeks testing day went well, with all areas and test sites were completed. Steve Pinard reminded all that the Spring Meeting, of the water Quality Test Program, open to the public was set for later in the clay at 5-.30PM. Publicity was extensive via cable TV, newspaper,emalls and radio. Several Town organization and offices were included in the invitations. The presentation will be"live"on the Town's Cable TV system. Fresh Nater: Bill Taylor reported that the usual Newsletter was being prepared.