Fishing and Shellfishing

Dredging

The permitting on dredging is tedious – is there way to fast-track certain spots?
Granular sand in the harbor needs to be removed. It is smothering eelgrass beds.
Incorporate dredging with improving shellfish beds. • How to create dredging plans that have multiple benefits for navigation AND fishing/shellfishing?
Need dredging mid-harbor to create flow of water for navigation and health of eelgrass.
Hither creek needs to be dredged – the water used to be above people’s heads.

State deems certain areas of the harbor closed to shellfishing due to perceived risk of poor water quality by default of a certain number of boats/moorings – even though the water is tested by the town and results show good water quality.
Opening of the harbor shellfish beds are often closed due to water quality issues – there is a mooring field right there with heads on boats. • The town should look at the mooring grid and see if people are ok with shifting it around.
Shellfish closures in Madaket Harbor.
Water quality issues from fecal matter from birds – is there any way to mount an apparatus to keep the birds from landing near shellfish areas?
Green lawn is a trend – big issue with fertilizer. • How to convince people that green lawns along the waterfront result in poor water quality and thus reduced shellfish habitat?

Trying to find more acreage for more areas for aquaculture. • Space open in Polpis harbor for more aquaculture but it is a different type of bottom.
If there is more interested, contact Tara, create a plan and then the state will conduct a formal survey of the area
Shellfish regulations need to be reviewed before approving new shellfish proposals.
Updating language for aquaculture.
Focus on adding shellfish areas that are accessible by shore rather than solely by boat.
We don’t want family shellfishing areas to be forgotten as we look out for commercial shellfishing.
Need for a commercial dock where people can load/unload gear/catch.
Can the town use already-in-place infrastructure (from old property, etc.)? • E.g., old concrete boat launch at children’s beach that is currently not in use.
What can we do to keep shellfish culture and history alive? • Encourage people to shellfish - locals, seasonal visitors.

Are there data/information on annual quahog, little neck, and cherrystone population?
Each year the bay scallop harvest can be projected – but yearly quahog surveys have not been conducted since 2017.
Bay scallop fishery access – eelgrass beds are receding and are present in deeper and deeper water which makes it inaccessible to a lot of people.
Extend the season for softshell clams and quahogs into summertime (so summer visitors, etc. can experience shellfishing) – currently closed June-August.
Some individuals want to know where to look for clams and mussels – it is hard to find that information and it is not always public knowledge. • Town of Nantucket has data for species where surveying in done on the Natural Resources department website.

The commercial scallop industry is aging out – how do you get younger generations to enter the field?
Implement a school-to-work program or marine vocation program. • E.g., if someone is interested in high school, the program could provide them with an opportunity to gain experience.
Expensive to enter scallop fishing and there are 40+ days of training required – cut the training days in half.

Where can a recreational fishermen catch finfish besides from Brant Point? • Polpis
Monomoy shore
The mouth of the creeks on the outgoing tide
All the inside of the harbor has good fishing
Squidding has been banned from a lot of town docks because of ink. • Is there a way to designate an area for squidding?