SHELLFISH CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.; present were committee members Victor Doyle, John Stanley, Barry Thomas, Earl Moore; commercial license holder David Dunton; and Downeast Area Biologist Heidi Leighton.
II. Review of Shellfish Conservation Ordinance, Allocation Plan, and Department of Marine Resources Chapter 7
Discussion of the Ordinance and Allocation Plan concluded that the two need to be coordinated.
Non-resident commercial licenses are currently set at two and resident at three. Department of Marine Resources allows 5 resident commercial licenses without requiring the availability of non-resident licenses. Victor said he thinks the non-resident licenses are not effective in prohibiting poaching. After a brief discussion the following motion was made:
MOTION: It was moved and seconded to change the commercial license allocation to four resident and one non-resident, contingent upon approval from DMR. The vote was in favor.
The issue of Warden enforcement (lack of) and incentives, such as pay, were brought up again. Although Police Officers have the right to detain someone, only a certified Shellfish Warden (or Marine Patrol Officer) has the authority to enforce the ordinance.
Other topics touched on were junior licenses, can our resources continue to sustain unlimited licensing, and how to curb clamming without a license by summer rental people.
Heidi noted that DMR does not require conservation time and suggested we might want to change our Allocation Plan to simply require commercial license holders to attend one or more committee meetings each year.
After a review of Section 5 Licensing of the Shellfish Conservation Ordinance, Heidi offered to research the following questions: If changes are made to the Ordinance, do the changes apply to licenses issued this year; can the following be added to Section 5
C. 3. “Those who have held a commercial license uninterrupted from the first year of availability within this Ordinance shall maintain seniority”; can the following be added to Section 5. B. “No Shellfish license may be reserved and licenses cannot be transferred.”; and can an application fee be charged to anyone applying for a shellfish license. Once these issues are addressed, the committee will meet to write the proposed changes to the Ordiance.
III. Such Other Business as May be Legally Conducted
Review of Gilpatrick Cove information included information from Victor that he has called the DMR lab, his offer to the Town to help with the dye testing with volunteers was turned down, and Heidi noted postings should be done.
IV. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
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