[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6374726,"mediaKeyId","2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8","parentId",2143631,"title","Advisory board reviews extensive draft amendments to Town shellfish regulations; several items flagged for more work","audioSeconds",1987,"startMs",1838000,"endMs",3825000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8&start=1838&end=3825","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8/thumbnail_1838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374726/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Advisory-board-reviews-extensive-draft-amendments-to-Town-shellfish-regulations-several-items-flagged-for-more-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374726-47ce965cdab1a10aa2e6b1de603131ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165423&Signature=iZ8kOpKx9KkeowCV43JXUIB~aD80yUNfOpg4LpEs5xOZnN7N5yuqJXJlfoiwum9Bcz1ct6HwkYoDh~~V6Xx55o3uX9DtU7JZlBvgO48VLbVIg2Yle~L5w5kkl9CcVdGhd0PwIju888DCRaDxFdMVe2jCrdeVBl0dZ3~BWpJM0D17AXMYAhOCDjnc5yr86-~EnCHZN~v~ePmnvsj8V7DgpEK0Yk9X4dwSPGRguBUBXkE64p6DQOnb~bAisvs~L14LYkRII0jYFxhqH3kBF-fMzI1YDXEkVUnoBbwwk-MGB78Z~GSqEixQQZeL0N5P4jOzfyvY8NG5zd80bjwMb9ldfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Nantucket Shellfish Advisory Board spent the bulk of the April 2025 meeting reviewing a large set of proposed amendments to the Town of Nantucket shellfish regulations. Natural Resources staff walked the board through edits and red-line changes that addressed terminology (\"Select Board\" and \"shellfish constable\"), license categories, harvest criteria, closures and red-flag locations, temperature-buoy sources, reporting requirements, dredge specifications, apprentice hours, and enforcement penalties.

Major discussion points included:

- Temperature reference and red-flag control: Staff proposed using a Weather Underground station (Hussey Street) or NOAA gauges for temperature thresholds; members flagged the choice for clarification and asked Natural Resources to confirm the precise data source before finalizing rules.

- Catch reporting and apps: The draft would require previous-season catch reports to be on file for commercial-license renewal; staff said they are evaluating apps that could link to state reporting to reduce duplicative reporting burdens. Members urged staff to pursue an app or simple digital form that can record recreational and commercial catch data in season.

- Apprenticeship and licenses: Draft language reduces the required apprentice active fishing days from 45 to 25 and requires apprentices and mentors to review a (to-be-developed) commercial scallop best-practices checklist. Members debated how to verify apprentice days (catch reports, photos, mentor attestations) and urged clearer wording to count days for helpers who are not yet licensed.

- Dredge specifications and study: Several harvesters told the board many boats have moved to smaller, 4-dredge configurations and new wing/bag geometries. Staff proposed a temporary path: altered dredges must be photographed, weighed and submitted for Natural Resources inspection prior to the season, and the department will conduct a dredge-impact study to inform permanent standards. Several harvesters requested an independent third-party study and said they want uniform, clear inspection criteria.

- Green crabs and pots: The draft references state requirements that a letter of authorization (LOA) be obtained for green crab harvesting by pot; harvesters said neighboring towns often do not enforce LOAs and questioned the town enforcing a state requirement more strictly than other communities.

- Conch (whelk) tags and allocation: Draft language caps the number of conch pot tags and proposes equal distribution between Nantucket and Madaket areas; harvesters asked the department to clarify geographic definitions for \"Madaket Harbor\" and how unused tag allocations would be managed when licensees are inactive.

- Enforcement and disposition: The revisions include fines and a process for confiscated catch: photograph and document unlawful catch and return it to the water where appropriate rather than retaining it. Members discussed procedures and transparency about confiscated catch disposition.

Board members and staff did not finalize the regulation package. Staff flagged a set of items for focused follow-up, agreed to collect clearer wording and definitions (harbor boundaries, dredge technical parameters, buoy/data sources, and procedures for transfers of tags and inactive permit holders), and scheduled further review at subsequent meetings (February 4 and February 18 dates were mentioned for additional working sessions).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board-01/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board reviewed proposed revisions to the Town of Nantucket shellfish regulations, discussing items including temperature buoy selection, catch-reporting, apprentice requirements, dredge specifications and inspection, green-crab authorizations, conch-tag allocations, and enforcement procedures; no final regulatory adoption occurred.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374731,"Natural Resources report: eelgrass plan progressing; board hears scallop parasite reports and catch estimates",257,930000,1187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8&start=930&end=1187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8/thumbnail_930000.jpg","/articles/6374731/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Natural-Resources-report-eelgrass-plan-progressing-board-hears-scallop-parasite-reports-and-catch-estimates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374731-0e0fabbc28e27913a0211d02aad1a96b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165423&Signature=l4lsNQ5sTmZj2no83B6L4vjSUTUHac3cFgr8NEAj2IJOkkWo-C5EgTVpKOTnunGZlbBAU3Twsgfucw5WgM-m5O~C70gTUuFR193AI5Rhcndk9-9Cj~y4233e0unxvYfOiw5FwzQUkI1iAowEvxJsbRCCPFhTnMCbBO-USx9JpZzwmjX1ZgSSWijexaD722Hq5nuP~6192zbFHwSe5TXsZcdaOE7pHvMG3CVgKfYhidyEbLMGDEV6lwjdatoPyn0XOomWP4Lcpuzra3k~0~jV8JzkkjCGQHMGBKMSpMv8BUdZsXH8aHYh1thbPFE3c2MorI8M8gnY1-5Cn7vBKjXEWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Natural Resources staff told the Shellfish Advisory Board in April 2025 that work on an eelgrass management plan is moving forward, and that the department is preparing an algae-culture and ribbed-mussel component for resiliency projects. Staff also reported outreach on a potential partnership with a yacht club for funding and said a hatchery schedule targets progress by July 1.

On the scallop fishery, Natural Resources staff gave a preliminary range for recent harvest volumes and said data are incomplete. The department estimated a \"high-end\" harvest near 5,000 bushels and, with incomplete reporting, a lower-bound estimate that staff described as provisional; staff said they are working to improve tracking via fishery-reporting apps that could interface with state databases. The board asked staff to follow up with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) about any planned visits tied to season-extension assessments.

Board members discussed a newly observed tissue discoloration in scallop meat — described in the meeting as a kidney parasite life stage and referred to colloquially by some harvesters as \"Dalmatians\" because of spotted appearance. Natural Resources staff said researchers have documented a kidney parasite in nearby bays and that the parasite appears to be more common in older scallops; staff said samples from Nantucket are being saved and sent for analysis and that harvesters should discard visibly affected meat. John Logan and other harvester members said they would collect location data for any affected animals to help the department map occurrence.

Staff also said the department is considering a dredge-impact study to assess new dredge designs currently being used by many harvesters; the department said boats must submit alteration letters, photos and weights for nonstandard dredges prior to the commercial season so staff can document equipment now in use. Several harvesters expressed interest in an independent third-party study and urged the department to proceed quickly so rules and inspection procedures are clear before next season.

Board members and staff agreed to continue documentation and sampling for the parasite, to pursue improved catch-reporting tools, and to discuss the dredge study and eelgrass-management details at future meetings.","Natural Resources staff updated the board on the eelgrass management plan, hatchery and mussel projects, and reported early-season observations of a scallop parasite and preliminary catch estimates; members discussed collecting samples and improving catch reporting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374736,"Nantucket Shellfish Advisory Board OKs letter on Vineyard Wind, asks for formatting tweaks and wider distribution",584,248000,832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8&start=248&end=832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143631-254bbed0b8ea7d7d1383782894a952a8/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6374736/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Nantucket-Shellfish-Advisory-Board-OKs-letter-on-Vineyard-Wind-asks-for-formatting-tweaks-and-wider-distribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374736-4ae32f7f88950ded9bf05433830144d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165423&Signature=Q1jo9GWKXTsBuzMdqaN4SkN2I~43o~zXKjUc2ekx2p7LaD6DiU-nUPZMx-ip6ZWEoP3lRABYan5xMvSa4wA95KgOxjMhV6GfMvxJ5a-f~j3K8NYB64p3uJwc44P-5YIxXVUAM-vPA45s4NAuL9qI6kTZ88ko1B8MgcHDXKQHE4Bb5X7nYeROPn-hnovw4T6xMGijTBHd7eMe9Btmk2A3I3n0fO1jMViwtCSB8V2M5hbsn6w~YqzCGzNRhf0NVZM9juZgg5-TCfWigUW-y7TXRDwRtVjrtUxWXqGhXvjKOzYQYqDMhvdsoqYCmChFZmsZkXthsEz6AsAEU3MX~VJBgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nantucket Shellfish Advisory Board voted in April 2025 to send a revised letter to the town Select Board expressing the board's concerns about Vineyard Wind and offshore wind turbine projects. The board approved a motion to submit the letter to Select Board staff for sign-off after the board's recommended formatting changes and the addition of a \"copies to\" list, with the motion made by Mr. DeCosta and seconded by Mr. Anderson.

The change the board mandated was primarily editorial: members asked that paragraphs be separated with carriage returns to improve readability and asked that a list of officials to be copied (CC'd) be appended to the letter. The board also directed the author, Peter Brace, to circulate the final draft to the board members by email once those edits are complete and before sending it to town administration.

Board members emphasized they intend the letter to be widely shared beyond the Select Board and noted plans to copy the governor and state delegates among other recipients. The board discussed concerns about perceived inconsistent town responses to other wind projects, and several members said they wanted the letter on record so the board's concerns would be available should a future installation be proposed.

The vote was recorded as unanimous at the meeting: Mr. DeCosta made the motion to approve the letter with the discussed revisions, Mr. Anderson seconded, and the board chair and members present voted aye.

The board did not adopt substantive new policy in the meeting; it approved the procedural step of forwarding the edited letter to town administration for Select Board review and sign-off. If Select Board staff requests additional edits, the Shellfish Advisory Board agreed it would revisit the letter at a future meeting.","The Nantucket Shellfish Advisory Board voted to approve a revised letter to the town Select Board about Vineyard Wind and offshore turbines, instructing staff to add paragraph spacing and a list of recipients to be CC'd before it is sent for town approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advisory board reviews extensive draft amendments to Town shellfish regulations; several items flagged for more work

Natural Resources report: eelgrass plan progressing; board hears scallop parasite reports and catch estimates

Nantucket Shellfish Advisory Board OKs letter on Vineyard Wind, asks for formatting tweaks and wider distribution