Westport Island Shellfish Committee

August 7, 2006 meeting minutes

 

The following is a summary of discussions held at the August 7, 2006 Shellfish committee meeting.

 

The committee met at 6:00PM in the town office.  Committee members in attendance were Joe Donohue, Donna Curry, and Jerry Bodmer.  Also attending the meeting were Amy Fitzpatrick and Darcie Couture from DMR and Forest Smith who is commercial harvesters.

 

Minutes:     A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as read.  This was approved by the members of the committee.  After signing the minutes by committee members, a copy of the minutes will be given to the town selectmen and a copy will be posted at the town office and an additional e-copy will be sent to the town administrative assistant.

 

Warden’s report:  No significant incidents were observed by Joe during the past month.

 

Status of Squam Creek South Opening:  Amy and Darcie presented the committee with a draft copy of the “Sanitary Survey for Growing areas on Westport Island” which is currently under final review by DMR staff.

 

The report will be presented to an official from the FDA within the next two weeks.  If the survey is approved the new Shellfish area will be opened to harvesters.  Along with the survey, they presented a map depicting the current open areas, proposed areas to be opened if the survey is approved and areas that will remain closed.   They map indicates that the proposed opening  extends from the current western boundary of Squam Creek down along the western shore through Lower Hells Gate and terminates at in the area of Brooks Point.  Darcie said that other supporting letters and public notices have been prepared and are ready to be sent out once the Survey is approved. 

 

The committee thanked both Amy and Darcie for all the work that they have done in completing this project and again offered any assistance that the committee might provide to DMR in bringing the project to a successful completion.

 

McCarty Cove Seeding:           Joe reported that he had inspected the seeding operation at McCarty Cove today and had found 8 of the original 10 nets still in place.  I appeared that within each of the eight nets the seeds had gone into the flats and were no longer visible from the surface.

 

Accident Insurance Coverage:         Joe reported that our request to be included in the Insurance policy coverage by a proposed Town policy had been forwarded to the Board of Selectmen and was being reviewed by the Selectmen.

 

Squam Creek Harvesting:      The Committee discussed in great detail the existing conditions at Squam Creek.  Several committee members as well as other residents of Westport have attempted to harvest clams in Squam Creek during the past month.  In all cases the participants were disappointed with the quantity of their catch.  All agreed though that there was a very large population of juvenile clans ranging in size from one inch to just under two inches.  In order to better support our resident’s harvesting needs the committee discussed the following options:

 

1.       Close Squam Creek on a seasonal basis.

2.       Close Squam Creek on certain days of the week such as Monday through Friday.

3        Restrict Squam Creek Harvesting to Recreational harvesting only.

 

The committee all agreed that a soon as the new Shellfish harvesting area is opened, Squam Creek Flats will be closed to Commercial harvesters.  In addition, no person holding a Commercial State of Mane Shellfish License will be permitted to purchase a Recreational Shellfish License.

  Joe will contact Ron Aho and discuss with him the details as outlined in this proposal. 

 

Next Meeting:  The Committee stood adjourned pending notification by DMR that the new area S/W Squam Creek was approved to be opened.  Once approval is received we plan on calling our next meeting. 

 

 

 

Chairman – Dave Bertran                _______________________________

 

Vice Chairman - Clement Sledge                ________________________________

 

Secretary – Joe Donohue                              _______________________________

 

Member– Jerry Bodmer                               _______________________________

 

Member – Donna Curry                                _______________________________                                                             

                                                                                   

Member – Lincoln Richardson    (Alt)         _______________________________

 

                                                                                                 

Member – Mike Muchmore (alt.)                 _______________________________

 

 

                                                                                            Signatures

 

 

Submitted by Joe Donohue - Secretary