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Fishermen may seek reimbursement for 'Sconset catch losses
"Because both of these parties stand to lose revenue, we've suggested that there be a memorandum of understanding between the fishermen and the 'Sconset Beach Preservation Fund to cover their loss of revenue," said Willauer. Striper fishermen told SBPF at a special informational meeting held by the selectmen on Feb. 6 that although they could not put a dollar amount on what they would lose, they all were worried about the project's fouling of habitat that could lead to fewer fish caught. "It's going to impact it greatly from what I can see [with] the silt and the sediment," said charter boat captain Jay Starr, owner and operator of Starr Fish Charters. "While no one can know for sure, based on what they do, it's going to create a big mud puddle, a dust cloud underwater. If we can't catch fish, the customers won't come back." The 'Sconset Beach Preservation Fund wants to dig up or suck up 2.6 million cubic yards of sand from shoals about a mile off Sankaty Head Lighthouse. It proposes to build a permanent beach beneath this top layer of sand - that it expects erosion to remove from the lighthouse down to Codfish Park - to protect the houses along the bluff and the public beaches in front of them. (The project's notice of intent review with the Conservation Commission begins this afternoon at 4 p.m. in the high school's Large Group Instruction Room.) Starr said the area near where SBPF wants to mine sand is ideal habitat for fish. "As far as Nantucket goes, [it's] one of the prime areas on the island," he said. Bluefish, striped bass, black sea bass and flounder all like this shoal known as Bass Rip because of its varied terrain with sand shoals, some rock and pebble cobble, holes and edges, notes Starr. "It's got a little bit of everything," he said. "It's got good tidal flow; it's a very conducive environment to catching everything." Althea K charter boat captain Pete Kaizer agrees with Starr, but said that it is too soon to say what the impact will be on fishermen because what the project is on paper is probably not what it will be in reality. "Not knowing how the project is going to go forward, it's hard to say," said Kaizer. "The borrow site itself is not on Bass Shoal, it's west of Bass Shoal. The dredge boat operates in 25 feet of water. In that area in particular, it's not been a highly productive area. Although fish do transit through there, it hasn't been a place we all fish." 'Sconset Beach Preservation Fund Executive Director Cheryl Bartlett said reparations would be arranged if fishermen find, once the sand mining begins, that they are losing money and can document it. "Our current plan is that we have made the commitment that if any fishermen have been impacted by the project, we are willing to compensate them for that difference if they can demonstrate it," said Bartlett who added that she has already spoken with island fishermen, including Starr, Kaizer and Bobby DeCosta about a compensation plan. Willauer, who appealed to the Nantucket Shellfish Association at its March 27 meeting in hopes it would also go to bat for the fishermen, found no interest on the part of the Shellfish Association, but is satisfied that the two sides are working on a solution. "We just want to make sure there is a satisfactory memorandum of understanding," he said. I BEACH TALK Because the Conservation Commission thinks the 'Sconset Beach Preservation Fund's beach nourishment proposal will take up more than its share of its regularly scheduled meetings, it is holding SBPF's notice of intent review separately. The hearing opens today at 4 p.m. in the Large Group Instruction Room at Nantucket High School and continues on April 25 at the same time and place. |
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