07/13/2021 SHELLFISH COMMISSION Minutes

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NEW BUSINESS 1: Dredging Proposal/Punkhorn Point-Popponesset Bay Mr. McElligatt said there's an individual who wants to dredge from his dock into the channel so he can get his boat out. There are a lot of shellfish out there, but a not many people know that. A lot of that area is just muck and not good for shellfish. If it's marked out well,I'd have to do a pretty extensive survey. It would have to be mechanical dredging. Matt Costa from Cape and Islands Engineering has spoken with the Tribe, as their grant is right next to it. A knowledgeable Tribal member must comment. Conservation Commission granted a continuance until 7/22/21. Mr. Pocknett said that sounds good from his point of view, a lot of that side of the grant is unusable. Mr. Thomas said it is right at the opening of the Mashpee River, could be a good benefit. Mr. Christensen asked where the spoils will go,Mr. McElligatt said that's not in the plan yet. 2: Shellfish Constable Report Mr. McElligatt said he has a full staff for the season,4 seasonals, 2 are leaving at the end of August. They've transplanted about 1 million quahogs to recreational and commercial areas. Yesterday we received the 111 of our seed for the year, the next 2-3 weeks the seed will start pouring in. We have 300k R4 quahogs and 58-60k R8 oysters. The oysters look beautiful, super healthy,but growing a little slower. The quahogs remain to be seen;there was a lot of mortality,the hatchery said they're aware and for that reason they padded the order. One upweller is running, all silos filled, but low density. That upweller is less than ''/2 capacity. Oysters in Mashpee River were happy,just not throwing edge.The food in the water might be too big. The big stuff is throwing out a lot of edge.About 600K single seed will be ready for the winter recreational area. We ordered 30 more hotel cages and 50 double stack trays to be on track for opening up a recreational area on the Waquoit side of the Great River in winter 2023. We had to put signs out in Great River area saying it's closed for the season. It's because of the mooring changes,nothing to do with water quality. There was a meeting with the Tribe last month,the two departments will be better about working together. We developed and made new shellfishing maps; they are much more detailed than the previous ones. Not a lot of enforcements in June, 73 checks and 5 written warnings. July had 140 checks just over July 41h weekend, a couple written warnings and citations written, but nothing too bad. Seems to be less commercial fishing this year. Mr.McElligatt will be doing inspections on grants this year, making sure buoys, gear, etc...is as it should be. Last night the Board of Selectmen approved some changes to Shellfish Regulations: 1. Recreational harvesting of oysters will no longer be year-round. Summer oyster harvesting will only be done commercially. 2. People can no longer bay scallop in grants. 3. Shellfishing in a closed area penalties are now 3-5yrs in prison, or$500-$10k.