Nantucket Updates Its Shellfishing Regulations For First Time In A Decade

The Select Board approved the first significant update to Nantucket’s shellfish regulations since 2015 at its meeting on Wednesday, bringing the rules into line with state and local standards and the current reality of the fishery.

Changes include clearer and more specific fines for violations, increases to conch harvesting permits, and a requirement for a catch report before licenses are renewed.

The discussion on Wednesday mostly centered on scallop dredging. Under the new regulations, any alterations to dredges must be approved, inspected, and not harm eelgrass. While the 35-pound weight limit for dredges remained unchanged, local commercial scalloper Pennel Ames expressed concern that the changes would lead to a crackdown on dredges slightly over the weight limit, which Ames argued are often the best choice for local scallopers.

“I think that the 35-pound weight limit is an unreasonable expectation. I think that the average dredge that’s used now will either meet that or go over that,” Ames said. “We’ve never had to have our dredges inspected in 50 years, and I think it’s kind of a slap in the face.”

But Natural Resources Director Jeff Carlson said that the weight limit was the result of careful deliberation and had not caused any significant issues in the last decade.

“Since 2014, it hasn’t been an issue,” he said. “There were well-established fishermen that came together for that number in 2014.”

Carlson also said that if problems begin to emerge, the regulations can be revisited.

Ultimately, the Select Board voted unanimously in favor of the regulations, with the understanding that they could be changed if necessary.

“This is an industry that we want to maintain as a legacy of Nantucket,” Select Board chair Dawn Hill said. “There’s not as many people committed to being commercial scallopers anymore, and it’s kind of sad for the community.”