Select Board approves Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board request to extend scallop season with temperature cutoff

The Select Board on March 5 approved a request from the Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board and Natural Resources staff to seek a commercial scallop season extension to April 11. The board’s approval was conditioned on an automatic early closure if water temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Andy Lowell, chair of the Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board, and Natural Resources staff reported that fall survey estimates and in-season catch figures indicate an abundance of adult scallops remaining in town waters. Natural Resources staff said the town’s estimated catch so far is roughly 8,500 bushels and that fall survey estimates suggest that may be roughly half of what remains in the resource. The advisory board noted that many commercial scallopers have lost fishing days to cold weather and that the nine-day extension would provide additional harvest days while allowing managers to protect the stock if temperatures rise.

Natural Resources clarified that the state Division of Marine Fisheries has final approval for season changes and will accept the Select Board’s request only if submitted by the town’s chief executive. Harbor and Shellfish and Natural Resources asked the Select Board to adopt their recommendation so the town manager can forward the request to state regulators.

Board member Matt Boulter moved approval with the temperature condition; Don seconded, and the measure passed by roll call vote with the chair voting aye.

Why it matters: The timed extension aims to balance fishermen’s lost effort from weather with conservation safeguards tied to water temperature, an indicator of shifting conditions that can affect scallop survival and recruitment. The board’s conditional approval sends a formal town-level request to state regulators who hold ultimate authority over season dates.

What’s next: The town manager will forward the Select Board’s recommendation to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries for final approval and implementation.