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<br />though it is a privatized business by an individual. She said the individual will have to prove that they are <br />competent, willing and able to take this on as a full time business and that it will no longer be considered <br />a hobby. She said the areas could be delineated, engineered and permitted at the Town level and then <br />offered to the general public as a lessee of that site. It would be the same as operating in the waters of the <br />Commonwealth. It is just that the Town is taking care of the permitting. That way the Town is able to <br />hold them to a higher standard in meeting the production values in compliance with the comprehensive <br />planning efforts. <br />Ashley stated that we can get funding through the Seaport Economic Council to do this and hire the <br />consultant to do it for us after the completion of the Harbor Management Plan. She stated that this is a <br />business endeavor and that the person would be working on behalf of the Town but would also be making <br />money. <br />She stated that the Department will continue growing in the Mashpee River, Shoestring Bay and Ockway <br />Bay. She said the Town would be getting revenue, which would go into an Enterprise Account, by <br />leasing the gear. <br />Ms. Fisher went on to say that the oysters that the Town is growing can be sold to other municipalities if <br />the Town is going over and above what can be harvested recreationally. She said some towns don’t have <br />the areas or staffing to grow large numbers of full grown oysters and they are being bought by other <br />Towns to stock their recreational fisheries. <br />Co-Chair Cook asked what the goals are and Ms. Fisher responded that the ultimate goal of the shellfish <br />program is to clean up our waterways under the Comprehensive Plan. Co-Chair Cook then asked if we <br />are under any obligation and Ms. Fisher responded that we are. She stated that its part of the <br />Comprehensive Plan and it’s been approved by the EPA. She said the Town is beholden to that Plan. <br />The question of what if we can’t get seed or if it dies was raised and the response was that there are <br />always extenuating circumstances that are out of the Town’s control but there are guidelines in the plan <br />and they need to do their best to follow those guidelines. <br />Co-Chair Cook stated that he was surprised at the number of oysters that were proposed to be planted <br />(3,000,000). He said he thought that he understood that there would be a lot more quahogs and less <br />oysters because quahogs require less gear and are easier to harvest. He questioned whether it’s worth the <br />effort as the water is still brown and algae looking all summer. <br />Ashely responded that scientific studies are being done and the data is there. <br />It was requested that Ms. Fisher have Mr. Martinsen come and speak to the Commission. <br />Chair Thomas said that there are a lot of contributing factors as to why the water is so bad and that oysters <br />alone aren’t able to fix it. Ashley stated that she reports to the DEP every year and that each oyster is <br />counted as ½ gram of removable nitrogen. <br />Co-Chair Cook asked for a report from start to finish, how many oysters are put into the water and how <br />many are removed. He said he doesn’t think the Town should be shouldering the nitrogen problem. <br />Mr. Avis stated that quahogs are harder to grow than oysters are. <br />Ms. Fisher said that getting and securing quahog seed is very difficult. They are often getting them late, <br />they are not getting to size and that there is not enough bottom to put them all under nets. Co-Chair Cook <br />disagreed and said that he would like to see something on paper. He also stated that he would like to <br />know well beforehand where the oysters are going to go after being utilized as a nitrogen remediation <br />tool. He inquired as to when this large number of oysters will be open to harvest after the growing <br />season and Mr. Avis responded the beginning of November is usually when the Division opens them up. <br />Co-Chair Cook said fall is the worst time of the year to put oysters on the market. <br />Chair Thomas stated that the reason this has come up is because the Commission’s understanding was <br />that, in the past, the Department had too many oysters and was having a hard time getting rid of them. He <br />said that he thought they were on a downward trend with oyster orders. He asked that something be put <br />into writing as to what the plan is for the oysters and presented at the next meeting. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />