04/09/2019 SHELLFISH COMMISSION Minutes

Home Browse Search

4.5 Compliance with all laws required; approval of license: Approval of any aquaculture licenses shall be subject to all federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations as in force and as amended. The licensee shall comply with all rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of an aquaculture license in-the state of Massachusetts. Failure to comply with ANY of the aforementioned rules and regulations shall be cause for license revocation. Commission Comments:No comment. Agreed to change the wording in last sentence as suggested by the public comment: Public Comment: Cook: "Shall should be changed to may in the last sentence, accidents and storms happen. The markers may move and drift away etc. and that's not anybody's fault" 4.6 Pre-application meeting with the Shellfish Constable and Harbormaster: Prior to submittal of application,the applicant shall meet with the Harbormaster and Shellfish Constable to locate the proposed licensed area latitude and longitude boundaries. The applicant must choose an area in which does not impede boat navigation and does not already contain a standing stock of marketable shellfish species. No new applicant can schedule a pre-application meeting between April 1"and November I"for each year. Commission Comments:No comment. 4.7 Changes to original license plans and order of conditions: All proposed changes to the original working plan as described in the original application which may include but are not limited to rafts, floats,racks, cages, trays, nets, species, etc. must be submitted in writing to the Shellfish Commission, and if the changes require further review, the Shellfish Commission may make recommendations to the Board of Selectman and Conservation Commission. Commission Comments: This is already in our current regulations and there was no change. 4.8 Moratorium on issuances of new licenses: The Board of Selectman with advisement from the Shellfish Constable, Harbormaster, and the Department of Natural Resources Director may issue a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses at any time when this action is deemed appropriate and in the best interests of the Town's shellfisheries. Commission Comments: At some point these available areas will be at a cap and no new licenses may be given by the Board of Selectman. This would limit new applicants. York: "Shellfish suitability areas will be assessed by the Shellfish Constable and areas will be limited based on bottom type and standing stock." Fisher: "Sampling will be conducted to find these areas in the near future."