Meeting Highlights

 

 

 

Yarmouth Shellfish Committee Meeting

July 15 , 2008

 

 

Enforcement

         Warden Guy Watson reported that he made 45 checks of recreational license holders and 100 checks of commercial license holders during the last month. He added that one warning was issued for closed area digging.      

 

Depuration

         The Chairman led a discussion of depuration activities in the Cousins River. The Committee previously recommended to the Town Council that depuration digging be allowed between June 23rd and November 15th for two days a week until a maximum of 1,500 bushels are harvested. Warden Watson reported that 844 bushels have been harvested during eight days of digging. The Chairman added that at the request of those participating in the digging, one day a week was added to the depuration management plan. It was recommended, and approved by the Committee, that a survey of the area be conducted once the maximum amount of 1.500 bushels in order to determine if additional activities are warranted.      

 

Sea Meadows

         Chairman Baietti reminded those commercial diggers in attendance that a clam survey of the Sea Meadows area is scheduled for July 20th. The survey was scheduled as a result of a request to open the area to commercial digging. Once the results of the survey are analyzed and provided to the Committee, a decision on the status of the area will be made.

 

Ordinance Amendment

        Chairman Baietti led a discussion of the proposed changes to the ordinance that establish junior and senior recreational licenses. There was some confusion concerning numbers and fees, which are not addressed by the ordinance. The Committee decided to keep the senior license language the same but to add 13 years of age as a lower limit for the junior license. In addition, the Committee added language allowing those 12 years of age and under to assist a recreationally licensed parent in obtaining their daily limit.

 

Next Meeting

         The next meeting will be on August 12th at 7 pm at the American Legion Hall.