12/13/2022 SHELLFISH COMMISSION Minutes

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SHELLFISH COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 13, 2022 — 7:OOPM MASHPEE TOWN HALL — 16 GREAT NECK ROAD NORTH WAQUOIT MEETING ROOM PRESENT: Chair Peter Thomas, Co -Chair Richard Cook, Bill Holmes, Daryl Christensen Buddy Pocknett OTHER ANTENDEES: Director of Natural Resources Ashley Fisher Natural Resources Officer Chris Avis ABSENT: Jaime Pachico CALL MEETING TO ORDER: Chair Thomas called the meeting to order in Open Session in the Waquoit Meeting Room at 7:OOPM. PUBLIC COMMENT: None at this time. MINUTES: Discussion and approval of the November 15, 2022 Shellfish Commission Meeting minutes. A motion was made by Mr. Holmes to accept the November 15, 2022 Shellfish Commission Meeting minutes as written. Motion seconded by Mr. Christensen. Motion passed by unanimous consent. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE: None at this time. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Shellfish Constable Hiring Update. Ashley Fisher stated that there were two candidates and one was chosen. At this time, the Town is in the final stages of the hiring process. 2. Shellfish Seed Orders — Past year's and next year's orders. Ashley Fisher gave an update saying that there was a management shift in the ARC in 2018 and the quality of quahogs dropped substantially at that time. Roughly 9.5 million animals were ordered and 4 Million died off within a week. She stated that she thinks it could be because of where they were grown. The growing area was moved and, since then, the quality has improved. 2020 was a bad year and animals were getting returned because of the quality of them. In 2021 roughly 5.5 million animals were ordered and 4 million of that order was fulfilled. There was a relatively low mortality rate in 2021. In 2022 there was a substantially less amount of animals and the mortality rate was 50%. Ms. Fisher does not know the reason.