05/22/2019 SHELLFISH COMMISSION Minutes

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The issue of the sponge in Hamblin pond has comeback onto the agenda of the Shellfish Division. The removal of this sponge is necessary to open up future seeding areas. The Division will be organizing a volunteer day to remove the sponge in the area of the Hamblin Pond channel. Volunteers will be recruited on a day when the tide is low enough to work for at least 4 hours. May 1"was the start of the Falmouth Commercial Harvest opening in Waquoit Bay. So far, all of the boats and individuals checked were in compliance with all state regulations and local bylaws. Seed bags have +been noted on some boats that were checked,but no seed was in their possession. This year the Town of Mashpee issued a total of 15 Commercial Shellfish Permits. May 191h was the start of Vibrio Season and all Shellfish aquaculture license holder checks for icing thus far have been in compliance with proper tagging etc. All vibrio log books have been handed out, and vessels have been checked for human waste containers and proper gages. Each licensed grant holder has submitted their yearly reports as well as a list of individuals that have permission to work on the licensed area. The Natural Resources Department received the results for the 2018 Summer Water Quality Program, and the data shows further improvement in Hamblin Pond, Little River, and Great River. The seeding efforts in the area are contributing to the lower nutrient levels in these areas. This summer an addition 5 million quahogs will be seeded to further our efforts to improve water quality. Old Business: Aquaculture License Area Availability Shellfish Constable Ashley Fisher recommends to the Commission that a moratorium be issued on any further Shellfish Aquaculture License applications until the Shellfish Aquaculture License Regulations and Procedures as well as the updated Shellfish Regulations are completed and approved by the Board of Selectman. We also need to produce a map of the Aquaculture License Area Availability prior to lifting the moratorium. York: "Licenses will still be able to be transferred during the moratorium." Marques: "This wouldn't prevent anybody in the future from applying for a licensed site, would it?" Fisher: "No the moratorium will last no longer than the,time it will take to review the necessary regulations and area availability. The two pending applications are exempt from the moratorium, that being Smith and Matoian" Motion: Thomas made a motion to put in place a moratorium until such date that the Board of Selectman have approved the updated Aquaculture License Area Availability Map,updated Shellfish Aquaculture License Regulations and Application Procedures, and the updated Shellfish Regulations. Smith and Matoian are the only applications that will be taken into consideration for approval during the period of the moratorium. Marques seconded the motion. All voted unanimously in favor. Recommendation for new Shellfish Commission member: Update Dick Cook as submitted his application to the Board of Selectman to join the Shellfish Commission. The commission has not yet heard from the Board of Selectman regarding his submission. Interviews for 1 additional board member will be scheduled for the next Shellfish Commission meeting,to be held of June the 11 th at 7pm.