Good. >> Good to go. >> Yep. >> Let me try this again. Good evening everyone. Uh welcome to the Shellfish Advisory Board meeting of January 13, 2026.
It is 17:30 hours. So we kick off the meeting. I'd like to stand if you can and recite the pledge of allegiance. United States of America to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. >> Uh thank you everyone. Um we do have everyone is here. So we have a quorum. Um I'd like to open quickly. Agenda item number two is uh review and approve the minutes from our
meeting of 1219. They were all emailed to the members of the board. Do I hear a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All in favor? So moved. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Unanimous.
>> Can you take the notes on? >> Yep. >> Thank you. Okay. Hey, third on the agenda, the update from Captain Bill Chase, the director of marine services. Yep, >> Mr. Chair. Uh, let's start off like we always do with the balance in the, uh, shellfish
propagation gift fund. As of yesterday afternoon, it was 213,58.97. >> What was that again, Bill? I'm sorry. >> 21358.97. >> Thank you. You'll notice that number was actually higher than uh the last meeting. Uh that is because we had uh
some private donations that were just recorded. Uh so that's where we stand right now. On the uh liability side of things, we have 440,000 U seed cohogs ordered from Msongus Bay. These are the 10 to 14 size, the same
size we bought uh last time. Uh, a little word about the uh, shellfish nursery. Um, Rick and I met with a couple of uh, individuals from Roger Williams University, Kim Souls and
Malcolm Brown, I think was his, uh, name. Uh, they have expressed interest in helping us to get the, uh, nursery up and running again. uh and they claim that they can bring some bodies and some expertise and help
us get it running by the 1st of June. The reason it's the 1st of June is that that's when most of these municipal nurseries and hatcheries operate. They run from the 1st of June till the end of November and then they shut down for the winter.
What uh I what we're thinking here is, you know, we we've had discussion over the cost of purchasing larger seed. Uh it turns out that that cost is just plain prohibitive. Uh for those of you
who don't know, uh the price we're paying right now is $45 per thousand. If we were to purchase the same seed at 25 millimeters as opposed to 10 to 14, that price would go up to $75 per thousand,
which would make it prohibitive. Uh, so our thinking is if we can get them earlier, perhaps a save a little bit of money on that $45 per thousand and then put them in our upwellers, we could leave them in there until we can uh till they can get a little bit bigger and we
can seed them after that. The advice we got from these folks was that uh I want to say it was the end of October that they said was the optimal time to put the seed on the riverbed. uh anything
after that risks uh mortality. Um so anyway, that's what we're thinking uh on that side of things. Um Bruce, everybody wants to know what's up with Bruce. Let me tell you exactly
what's going on with him. I've had two communications with him. One was on uh New Year's Eve actually and he said, and I think I mentioned this to all of you, uh his lawyer said that um they were making headway,
that the salvage company had been paid, but he had received nothing yet. And I just texted him on the way back from Fort Rodman, and I'll tell you exactly what he said. Uh, this was right at 1700, so just half
an hour ago. Um, I said, "Hi, Bruce. Just check in to see if there's any movement in your fight with the insurance company. Just looking for an update to pass on to the shelfish board." And he said, "Nothing for me. Still waiting. Heard that the salvage
company and the Florida fire department got paid. That's what the lawyer said, but I have no proof." So, that's what I know from Bruce right now. He's still waiting to get settled up with the insurance company. Uh, what else do we have here? Um,
I should mention that uh Rick and myself and uh Kevin Carter are going to be taking the mass shellfish officers class beginning Thursday. Uh this runs from the 15th through May 1st and this will give a state certification to serve as
uh shellfish constables wardens whatever you want to call it uh in the eyes of the state. U so that's something that the three of us are doing. Roger Williams has since we had that meeting with them about the nursery, they have
offered us uh some seats in a class that they're running, which is basically how to run an upweller. You know, it's the most basic of all the steps that one would have in that uh aquaculture world.
Uh so we're going to take a series of classes. I think there were 15 of them um on Tuesday nights. They are all virtual, thank God, because we're all over the place right now. Um so I think with their help and their instruction,
um we the four of us, uh Andrew is in on this one as well. Uh we should become pretty proficient in how to run uh the basics of an upweller and we'll see what we can do with it going forward. Uh but that's what we're doing on a professional basis as far as the uh
credentials uh that we're looking to achieve. On top of that, Rick and I just did first aid CPR today over at the uh Fisherman's Alliance in New Bedford, uh which was I thought it was terrific. I don't know how you felt, Rick, but uh uh
just a great bunch of guys. It was all targeted. It was all scolopers basically in there with a couple of uh couple of outliers I guess. Uh and as a result of that, we got a couple of really serious uh first aid kits to add to the
collection that we have down at the shack. So, uh time well spent today to be sure. So, uh that's all I have folks. That's that's the update from DMS. >> Thank you, Cap. Um any questions? Yeah,
I'd like to visit the cost of that spat you're going to buy us the 45 to the 75. See if we've uh worth it to go bigger. You said it's prohibitive. >> Yes. So, I mean this you're talking at $45 per thousand. They go in batches of
$220,000. So, it's $9,900, the same price as it was last year. So, you know, you multiply that times two and that's what we're purchasing, 440,000. If you were to purchase that same amount
at 75, I don't know. Do the math. Uh $36,000 somewhere in there. >> Well, I'm looking at the percentage of what's going to grow and what's not going to grow. >> So, we that's why we want to get the uh nursery up and running. >> All right. >> Because that's the alternative, Dean. If
if we could use the nursery to I mean, we got these September 30th last year, right? That's the date that they just disperse whatever they grew. Um if and again you can get them bigger, you can wait a little bit longer, but it's going
to cost you considerably more. So where we already have our own upweller that just needs some TLC, um getting that same 10 to 14 at $45, putting them in those upwellers, let them continue to grow and then we can spread
>> bigger seed. When you put the cohogs out like that, the cohog seed, do you follow up afterwards and go check it to see if it's taken gone to the bottom and it is growing and it's not just the predators got to it and it's gone?
>> The short answer, Scott, is no. Um, but this was our first us as a group, Rick and I, and as our first attempt at seeding any part of the >> So, it was Rick and CB and myself. Uh, >> do you know where you're going to be putting the seed?
>> Somewhere where there's no eel grass. That was that was our approach uh on September 30th. >> So, as far as where these will all go yet to be determined. >> Now, you said you have an upweller you got to redo it. But what kind of upweller is it? One that sits out in the
middle of the water or is it one that's going to be right at the dock? >> This one is >> pumps on it and all that type of stuff. >> Yeah, this is it. There is a building right at the point. Yeah. Just as you go over the bridge to the west dock, it's right there. >> Okay. >> So, that's where this will all happen. >> Good. Because if you have it out in the
water, it's never going to work. >> Attend it good enough and clean everything. It's a lot of work. >> It's Yeah, it's a lot of work. There's no question. It's hot enough to get guys. >> It's great. They work. It's fantastic. And if you do, like you said, get the seed at that size, put in the upweller for a little bit, it'll grow so fast
it's not even playing. And then you can plant it real nice. >> Yep. That's the plan. >> Yeah. as far as where they go. I mean, we're open to any and all comments. You know, I'm not going to sit I'm not going to sit here and say it's going to go here, here, and here. And this board has always been a collective opinion of the
board itself and and the shelf issues. Well, why not think about possibly putting it like where the relays are because when the relay when the um dredging ever stops, then you'd already be set up to roll
right into fishing regular. >> So, you're suggesting we put seed cohog in a reg right in with a relay. >> Unless you're going to open another cove and put them in different codes. >> We're getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren't we? >> In general, it's just not going to work. Yeah,
>> I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. >> Yeah, I >> we don't have anything to plant yet, so let's not put too much time and effort into where it's going to go. >> No, no, no. I I get your point, Scott. I mean, but yeah, like Skip said that this is not until September when we get there. So,
>> we we'll have plenty of meetings >> Yeah. >> coming up to address that. >> Any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Cap. >> Item number four, moving on. um discussion regarding the future status of area BB4.15
which specifically we're going to be talking about north of the Hicksbridge. Um I anticipate a fair amount of discussion over that tonight. So there were going to be some ground rules which will follow the ground rules
of open public meetings. First of all, anyone who speaks will stand up to the microphone and they will give their name and their residential address and everyone will have an opportunity to speak one time
um before somebody else is allowed to speak a second time. So, if you have something to say, we certainly want to hear what you have to say. Um and then feel free to sit down and somebody else will speak. and at the end of the night
um we will take that um conversation from where it goes. So having said that um just a quick overview we've discussed this before and over the past few years we have seen a
diminished capacity of oysters coming out of the area north of Hicksbridge. A year ago, we opened with two years ago, we decided that the best route for this committee decided and approved by the select board, if I remember correctly,
was to go from two three bushels down to two bushels. Um, 2024 we did that. Um, and now we're at a juncture that's generating a lot of conversation among those who fish, including those who go
in for licenses into the clerk's office question um the viability and those are our own people. Those are our own shellfishes who were talking about that. So having said all that um I'd like to open it first of all to discussion to the for
comment from anybody from the board and once that is done um we'll open it for discussion from you. I we all appreciate you guys coming, guys and women coming here um and sharing. We want to share
your input so that uh collectively as a group who work this river we can make a decision that um hopefully will help us in the future one way or another. So is there anybody who wants to make an opening comment besides myself from the
shellfish advisory? Yeah, I do like uh a diminished amount of oysters. >> Uh so if there's a number you want to close it at, what's the number you want to open it at? >> I'm going to say that again. >> Well, if we close it, hold on. Hold on.
I'm asking for statement. We'll we'll get into questions a little bit later, but I'm asking for statement. So if you have a statement you want to share with everybody here. >> Well, I don't have a statement, but that was probably >> okay. and we'll get back to you. >> Okay. Any other statements? Anybody from
anybody in the committee? Nobody. Okay. Having said that, any input from the audience? >> You didn't know your first. >> Yeah. What's your direction? >> Yeah. Where we headed to?
>> Well, what are we looking at? >> What's your decision? We have a decision to make whether we want to close immediately closed under an emergency um the area north of Hicksbridge because
of um reduced capacity and the potential of the fishery collapsing up there. Um the second option would be to close at a certain date or a later date and the
third would be not to close at all. Our biggest concern is collapse of the fishery. Um, we have seen numbers drop off. We But there's a number of factors. There's days fish, there's rain closures, there's ice closures, there's
a number of the amount of seed being taken up there. Um, there's a whole bunch of variables. So, we want to have that discussion tonight. >> Sir, Jack Scaml, 79 Hillrest Acres. Um,
my question is why? Um, I think that's a that's 25 acres of I think a healthy oyster bed. And I don't think that the pressure uh the fishing pressure on it right now has has really, you know,
going to be detrimental to what's there. You got the ice, you got weather, you got a short season. Um, it's a huge area and I think that from what I've tested, I've only been out twice and I don't think it's that bad. I think it's still
pretty good. So, um, I'm still not sure what is what's, you know, what the purpose is to close the whole area. Um, we're only getting two baskets now. We were we were getting three baskets before. The oysters are a little bit bigger. So the counts um in each
basket's less. So you're not making as much money. But from my experience that with that oyster bed, I think it's a healthy oyster bed. And there's 25 acres of of good oysters there. So I can't see I don't really I can't see the reason
why you're closing it. Um if you close it and you still allow oyster in there, you'll be you allow oyster in north of the bridge or south of the bridge. There's only like three or four spots that are less than probably a quarter of an acre. You're going to overfish those.
But north of the bridge, I don't think the pressure that that's taken now has is going to do anything to the amount of oysters that are there. You're throwing back all the seed. You you're you're you're throwing back the smaller ones. Um they're going to live. They they
doesn't matter if they if they end up upside down or not. The ones you're throwing back are still going to live. That's a proven fact. Um, so I can't see I don't see the reasoning of closing the the north of the bridge.
>> Okay. Thank you, Jack. >> Anyone else like to speak? >> No, I'm listening because >> No, no. If you're going to speak, Cindy, you have to go to the mic. >> Oh, no. I'm fine. I'm just listening. >> Okay. Anyone else would like to speak to
this? Dean, feel free. >> Hi, Dean Lling, 123rd Street, Westport. All I want to say is uh maybe a compromise rather than closing at 100% would be a thought like Monday, Wednesday, and Friday rather than 100%
closed. It's just an idea, you know, because it's going to be it just rained. It's going to be closed. It could close again and be closed for another five days. I mean, so if it the days were cut in half just to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, that would make it much less
pressure just as an alternative to a 100% closure. I think it's just some to kick around, you know, just an idea. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else would like to speak at this round? >> Okay. I have a couple of comments uh
based on Mr. Scaml's. Um, one of the issues is we're seeing a depletion up there where we're down to two baskets. Okay? And it's general conversation that I hear in this town. I'm around this town
everywhere and I talk to everybody that the issue is it's taking much longer now to get two baskets. When I hear that it takes three hours or three plus hours to get two bushels
sounds reasonable. But when there's someone in your boat culling, we know that culling takes as much time if not more than catching than actually bringing back the oysters. So to me, when somebody says to me that the two of us, that basically equates to six hours
up there on the river. No more than 3 years ago, we were able to fish there for 3 hours and get three bushels. I can attest to that myself. One point. Second point is,
um, Jack, you mentioned about everything being thrown back. I got a call yesterday from a very upset buyer who said that he is receiving 20% seed from Westport.
And that those days are over. Our regulations call for five no more than 5% seed to be taken from the river. No, it's 5% seed while you're upgrading. You're allowed to land zero. Our regulations call for 5%. Okay. 20% is
going into the into the market. That gentleman said to me that he's no longer going to be talking to Westport oyster people because of the risk of him losing his
business if the environmental police go in and do an inspection. That tells me something too. That tells me that we're taking seed out of the river. If we're taking seed out of the river, there's no future in what we have up there. Um, can
I say did he say the conversation was brief? Trust me. And if you know who I was talking to, you'll know why it was brief. But I can't say that it came out of BB4 BB4.15. I can say it came out of the Westport River. But we all know judging from what
I have seen in my patrols that this is all coming out of north of Hicksbridge. So that's what I know. I certainly would open the conversation to the rest of the board. I just wanted to lay that out there so that everybody understands what's coming to us and what we're
seeing and and what we have to do about this. So again, I'm I'm just the chair. I'm not the final aer and we're looking for everybody's input. >> I think my question Rick to you and to Bill would be on a on a
a regular fishing day, you know, how much pressure is there up there? I mean, is there one, two guys, five guys, nine guys? >> I can ask. >> So, what kind of pressure is it under? >> Well, the most I've seen in one day, and
someone in who might have been there otherwise is has been three fishes up there. Um, we haven't had a lot of open because of we had the ice. >> It's not real heavy though. >> It's not real heavy right now. And but I
will say that we only have eight licenses this year, >> okay, >> up to now. >> And the town clerk has relayed to me that out of those eight licenses, the others who have come in for licenses have asked what the status is up there and they're and they're questioning the
$300 because the fishing has not been that good. So to answer your question, Skip, um maybe three people, that's six bushels, but we're getting >> is that >> that's more troubling is the fact that we're getting 20% seed being turned
back. That's what's troubling to me. >> I suppose if you took the seed out of what's being landed, it would be longer than 3 hours to get you two bushel >> for sure. >> 20% more. That tells me there's diminished supply up there of 3-in
oysters of marketable wild oysters. Um, that's what I that's what my math says. So, I will say this as a shellfish buyer. The smaller ones are more desirable than those big banana oysters. So, I'm not
sticking up for anyone. I'm just saying it could it could be that the guys the guys that are harvesting them are just >> No, they're legal or they're illegal. >> Exactly. >> I'm just saying all I'm saying is maybe the people harvesting them maybe there
are more oysters than we think and the people harvesting them are trying to take smaller ones. >> Yeah, they're taking smaller ones. >> But if the problem is that I understand what's legal and what's not legal, Chris, I mean it's like taking illegal ops. You either measure them, they make the measure or they don't. My point is maybe we need to do a better job as
diggers of what we're landing. That would be a good place to start if you don't want to get shut down is all I'm saying. I'm not sticking up for anybody. I'm just saying. >> Get fines and stuff like that. Your licenses. >> And as a shelfish dealer myself, you
don't want to have illegal product in the house when the constables show up. Well, I can tell you now that the EPOs are hot on this. Um, and they're going to shut down the buyer and they're going to and they're they're also going to push us for a suspension and and I have
to tell you if I get a report from and and I can and I think Captain will agree with me. If we get a report from the environmental police, someone taking shorts, taking seed, we are going to go to the select board for a 30-day
suspension of the licenses. We have to do it to protect the fishery. Um, what's fair is fair. We all know the regulations. I can't speak to what went on in the past, but I can speak to what's going to go on in the future. And my concern, and I think everybody in this room's concern is, um, you guys
more than me, cuz you're up there more than I am, is the fact that we do not want to destroy this fishery for the future. Um, and you know, the question is, where are we with this fishery right
now? Um, but our goal, and Captain Chase and I have talked about this at Nauseium, where is the future going to take us? Are we going to fish it out this year? Are we going to fish it out next year? And then we have nothing. Um,
and we'll be back here in two years saying, "What happened?" Um, I certainly don't want to be sitting here having that conversation. So, let's talk about it. Chris, you're not you you want to say something? Um, >> I think Jack, you said that the the beds
south of the bridge aren't there anymore? >> No, they're still >> Yeah, they're but they're small, but there are beds that have been >> destroyed. Fish over. >> Yes or no? >> Yeah. >> Yes. Okay.
>> Are you to destroying being overfished? They they were destroyed by being overfished. >> Yeah. Well, they're only small spots, less than a quarter of an acre. When you're talking about north of a bridge is 25, >> we had we had >> two or three boats on it. >> Okay. I'm thinking of the future of the
oysters and that >> Well, if you close if you close north of the bridge and you still and and you can still oyster, what are the commercial oyster men going to do? They're going to fish those three or four spots that are
south of the bridge. And if they're only like tiny spots like the size of this room and you get, you know, the only place to go, >> they're going to get fished anyway. >> They're going to Yeah, >> they're going to get fished anyway. >> But north of the bridge being, you know, like 25 acres. I sent you a picture of a
surveyor surveyed that for me. 25 acres of good bottom. I mean, when you when you and I fish together side by side, it was three or four or five boats. All in one little spot. That's only one little spot out of 25 acres. >> Then then why aren't guys coming in with
with their Why aren't they getting them then? >> I thought I I didn't think it was that bad at all. >> I have to chime in on this. You guys have worked all the way back to the northern line. Before you could fish
from the bridge anywhere. Now everybody's gathered just at that northern northern line. How many boats? >> That isn't the point. The point is >> why why isn't anybody fishing close to the bridge where we used to get them or right after? Because there's nothing
there. >> I don't know about that. >> There used to be oysters from Cadman's Neck North. >> Solid. >> You couldn't even swim. You couldn't even They're all gone. >> They're gone. >> All of them are gone. So I think we
should >> I'm not against >> look to the f look to the future here before we really shoot ourselves. >> Not against doing what you guys you know like think you should do. >> I'm just giving my opinion. I don't think it's that bad and I don't think
it's being overfished because there's only three or four three two or three boats on five acres >> because it's because it's been beat because it's been beat down. But Jack, let me jump in for a second. >> I don't agree with that, >> Jack. You you've we've had conversation
that it it has to be diminished to some degree because of the amount of time it is to get two bushels as opposed to three bushels. Now, 3 and 1/2 hours for two bushels is fine if I'm in a boat by myself. >> Okay, that's pretty pretty good. >> But when somebody has someone culling
with them, we're talking that translates to 6 hours. I don't think there's anyone in this room that would say that culling is the easiest part. Digging's the easiest part. Culling takes all the time, especially now where we're showing spat on some of the some of the legal
oysters. But when I see and I get a call from an iate um buyer who says we're getting 20% seed, that fraction on the digger. That's not has anything to do with >> Right. It's a big >> but it's a reflection on the resource.
>> Exactly. Exactly. >> It's the person It's the person bringing in. >> It didn't happen up until this point, Jack. When guys were getting their limits on a bushel an hour, never got a call from anybody saying, "Hey, there's shorts in here." It's when these guys are working hard and they're spending a lot of time out there and they're
putting they're grinding. And when they're grinding, they're coming in with the bottom of the barrel, the small stuff. >> Three years ago, >> it's just like striper fishing. You used to be one of the best striper fishers. You probably still are around. You know, when the small ones are there, the big ones are gone. >> That's how mother nature is.
>> Three years ago, the EPO's did a um a bus, not a bus, but when we pulled up to Hicks Bridge to to bring the oysters up, they had three EPO trucks there. And um I think it was uh the the EPO that's
around uh what now? Quinn Quinn came down first and I said, "What do you guys have a convention?" He says, "No, every shell fisherman in Westport today is going to get checked." And they checked three baskets of oysters. They had three three other guys with gauges and they checked every one of them. >> How long ago was that?
>> This is when we had it three three years ago because it was three basket limit. >> It was prior 2024 because we had three bushels. >> You were allowed 5%. You were allowed to take 5%. >> And and Mlin used to that with Koh at the dock. You You're allowed 5%.
>> Yeah. um mistake. But anyways, um they you know like we we had some you know but it was less than 5%. But I think that the the short thing is just is is the person taking them. I don't see how that really um has an
effect on on the amount of voices that are there. >> I think it was the if it was the person taking them though, the the person who called Rick upset would have said this individual needs to be clamped. He said, "I'm going to shut down your town."
>> He said, "I'm not buying from your town anymore." >> Oyes. >> Oyes. >> Yeah. Right. But I mean, it's not It wasn't like he was calling you to say, "Hey, you got one digger there that you know needs to be re-educated on what the legal size is or how to measure them." Cuz sometimes that happens, >> right? >> He said all of your diggers.
I mean, one thing we have we we have to keep in mind, one thing we have to keep in mind is that there's a reason that the natives are 3 in and less than 3 in are sexually mature. And they're the ones that are going to >> create the embryo that's going to create
the spat. And if we see that 20% of our catch, if we see 20% of our, let's just let's just throw the numbers out there, 20% of what's up there is being taken, we're losing that ability to regenerate. Um, you know, and that that's troubling.
Um, once they're gone, they're gone. So, we're talking about right now we're talking about, you know, well, I had a good day. I got 400 pieces. I had this. That's great. But what the question that keeps coming up all the time is what
about tomorrow? What about the year after? If we don't have enough to regenerate that fishery, we have a problem. We all be fat and happy right now. But we have to from my perspective and the perspective of the fishery is we have to look down the road. We're all
fishermanmen in this room. How many people have seen the collapse of different species over the years? There's a lot of years of experience in here. Whether it's stripe bass, whether it's everything is regulated now and everything is at a certain size and we see the sizes of every even the finfish
are coming down, coming down, coming down or getting bigger depending on the reproductive cycle. And we're starting to see that in oysters. Cohogs are different. Cohogs, we provide the cohogs. Nature's providing the oysters. And right now,
nature is is kind of sending us a signal. And at some point, and those who have been in the business a lot longer than me and have been in higher places in the business have said, when you get a warning signal, sometimes it's too late and you're going to lose that
fishery. So, the concern of many um is that we're concerned about the future. Um if we fish it out now, it's gone. It's gone for our lifetime and it's probably going to be gone for the lifetime of those who follow us. It was
closed for 30 years for the longest time for a number of reasons. I'm not just saying over fishing, but between pollution and whatnot. The reason most of these fisheries go south, oysters, I should say. It's simple. The shells
aren't there for the spat to attach to. The spat needs to attach to something. It doesn't attach to mud. So, if the fi if the reproductive shellfish isn't there, they're not going to deliver the embryo and the embryo is not going to have anything to attach to.
You remember the discussion we had last year when we changed the rules and I think Chris was the um director of marine services. We put in um no more stepping out of the
boat, no more callulling and you have to callull where you where you catch for that reason to get those shells back in the water because without the shells we don't have a spat. Without the spat we don't have a future fishery. So that's what I know.
>> Mr. Chair, can I say something? So before Rick got the call from this gentleman, I got the first version. Uh, suffice to say, this man was irate. He wasn't complaining about oyster fishermanmen. He was complaining about
Westport oyster fishermanmen because he knew where they came from. So, when the two gentlemen in charge of enforcement hear this kind of stuff, what do you think we're going to do next? I think the answer's the answer's
obvious, right? One other thing, one little bit of context here. I've been involved, I guess engaged is a better word, with several different I call it fish politics, but fishery
regulations meetings. I've been too many. And typically when the discussion rolls around to I think we need to shut it down, it's usually too late. When it gets to the point where
everybody's upset about what's going on and there's not enough to go around or there are hints that there is trouble ahead, it's usually too late. So, my advice to the board uh would be to be proactive on this and my advice to all
of you would be to be proactive on this. You have a chance to preserve what's the bridge, however you feel about it. you have a chance to preserve what's there for years to come. Now, you say there's
only two or three guys fishing up there and yes, it's closed for the two tents thing. We get all that. How much are you actually going to take out of that for the rest of this season versus what can you gain if you just
shut it down for a year? I mean, how long does it take for a oyster to reach legal size? >> It all depends on the salenity. north of the bridge is historically a long time. >> Yeah, it's right. It's it's a variable of course, but I think you need to
balance all those um in your head before you make a decision on all this. That that's all I want to say. >> I stand corrected, Cap. Um there are only six Oyster licenses um as of this morning, not eight. Um so just if that
adds into the just your thought process. So >> any any other discussion? That's I I would guess after this meeting that the percentage of uh short oysters will be changed pretty pretty >> percentage of what >> after this meeting the percentage of short oysters will be uh different
>> see the market >> probably should stop >> could be but >> that's not the point >> yeah I mean not the solution >> that's not the point >> we're allowed five we're allowed five we're taking 20 how long's this been going on and furthermore
um Who's to say when the pressure of this meeting is over, you know, we're going to be fishing too much, um hopefully we'll get some good weather. Um every shot that's taken out of that river is an o is a missed opportunity
to regenerate more oysters. And you know, we are seeing spat. I mean, I think everybody that fishes up there knows we we are seeing spat because we're spending half our time or twice the time, I should say, knocking going to spat off.
So, when it gets to the harvester, it doesn't it's not going to be something that's going to be we're not going to be sanctioned for. Um, we all know the rules. So, um, >> you want to hear me? >> Are we going to close it for punishment or for what's uh best fair?
>> I don't think this board punishes. It's got nothing to do with punishment. >> No, it's not about the fisherman. It's about >> We don't have any >> It's about theers. >> It's about the fishery. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it's about the future of the fishery. >> How many How many baskets should you get
for it to reopen? If suddenly they grew, how many would you be happy with? >> That's a good question. That's a good question. We're down to two right now. >> Yeah. >> And and that's a struggle. So, the message is there. We have to I would think we'd have to see where the fishery goes going forward. And that would that
would involve some test baskets. That would involve some um you know going up there in the future and um seeing if there's any longevity of life. >> It could be depleted by now. >> If you want, I'll go up there with you
and I'll dig the oysters. I'll go up there a whole day with you and we'll check the entire place up north of the bridge and you determine what I think. >> Well, first of all, first of all, I appreciate that, but it's not my >> it's not my call.
>> That way you can get action of what is really there instead of just getting it from fisherman talking. >> I think that should have been done before we decided that this is a possibility of closing north of the bridge. I don't think that just a few fishermanmen in a couple of little spots out of 25 acres is going to give you
good data as to how well that um area is doing. Uh as far as oysters survival, I think that there's a lot of virgin areas in that area that haven't been touched. I think that you're all I think you're going by just a small a couple of
fishermen and their reports of a couple of different spots in a large area. It just doesn't seem like that's the right method to be able to say, "Oh, that that oyster it it that it's declining. There's not enough oysters."
I agree with you. Yeah, it was a lot easier to get three baskets or two baskets last year, but I I still think that it's a healthy oyster bed that is that's not in danger of being overfished. >> Well, I got a question on that cuz why
did three years ago there'd be like 14 boats out there, 14 licenses, and now there's only two? >> Because it was so easy to get to three baskets. Well, right right this minute took a year though it may be everybody's waiting to see what happens here today >> before they go get their license.
>> And to go and to go against my argument, when you deplete the half moon uh beds for Kovox, you might have more pressure on north of north of the bridge. So that's like I'm I'm I'm going against myself on that, but that's true. You
might have more pressure after >> and even last year there were there weren't that many boats. No, no, because >> and we were two we were two bushels last year. >> Yeah, you can still make money at two bush two baskets. >> 2024 was two baskets last year. Just to go back to what you said, >> out of the two baskets, there's less
oysters. >> Just to go back to what you said, Jack, I looked at the Okay, the picture that you sent me of the 24 plus or minus acres up there. >> Y >> that's not all fishable. We know that. >> Oh, there's a channel. >> We We know all that. And we know on on
the east side we know on the west side we know exactly what's over there. Nothing. We know up against the shore on the west side there's nothing over there. We also know that down at the bridge where it's 30 ft deep. >> There's nothing we can fish there. So So
just just to be clear your statement of we have 23 25 uh acres up there is not factual. I will tell you this, below the bridge there's 25 acres. I can tell you that for a fact because I was up there
Saturday on another project. Around Lakes Island is 10 right there. around the corner in front of between Lakes Island and around the corner to Cadman's Neck is another 13 acres on the west side from um trips down to the brook
from the Marine Trips Marine down to the brook or Manchester Marine down to the brook there's another six or seven acres in there. So there's a there's a lot of acreage. If you want to go acorage to acorage, you have pretty much the same on either side of the bridge. But south of the bridge has
been destroyed. It's fished out. We don't want that to happen. And it's the same acreage. And that's all fishable. North of the bridge, we're our concern and the purpose of this discussion again is to preserve the fishery and move the
fishery forward. If this board decides that they want to just fish it till till its death, you have no right to come back here and nobody has any right to complain. >> So, what's your plans on if you do close it? What's your plans on next year?
>> To be determined. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That's a to be determined. >> But these these oysters don't grow in one year. They it needs a break. It needs a break. >> I'm sorry. In your opinion, >> how about if somebody goes up into the
polluted area where nobody digs and see how many oysters are there >> and see if they're dying off or >> go goes up where >> go up north. >> You can it's closed, >> right? But just to see what is there if there's a lot of oying or not.
>> Oh, cuz they might be dying on their own. >> That's even worse, >> right? >> It's even worse. I mean, right now the concern that we have is BB4.15 and you know, we have no business being
north of the bridge. It's closed for for whatever reason, >> not to take them, but to to just to see what's there. >> No, it's a good point, but my my point is is that how do we manage 0.15 at this point in time and are we
going to continue on this year? Are we going to close it emergency close it at this point? We going to continue on and open it and close it on the 30th of April and where it becomes seasonally conditional. You know, what are we going
to do? And again, everybody here I think has had the conversation with the exception of a few that we have a fishery problem. It's not a fishing problem, it's a fishery problem. >> So, I think first you got to establish what you have there right now.
I think that's been established >> and really get a good assessment on that before you can say, "Okay, we're going to close for two years, one year, three years, whatever." And then check it to see what we have then. You got to know what you have right now first. >> Well, I think it's pretty pretty plain
that we know that we have diminished population up there. >> But you don't know how much. >> We won't know how much it came back if you don't know what it is right now for, you know, to be really accurate about it. >> That's a good point. It's a good point, but how long are we going to be playing
with this? Because right now we're down to two fishermanmen with two bushels and 20% of that is seed. >> Mhm. >> And it took them 6 hours. >> There should be no damn seed. It shouldn't take that long. I agree. But before you can say, I'm going to close it, you got to know really what you have
up there. And you guys got to know that. You don't just ask a fisherman and hope they're going to tell you the truth. >> Well, I can tell you, you can flip it around. We know what we don't have up there. We don't have three bushels six days a week. No, >> we don't have 5% seed being taken out of
there. We know that we have 20% seed and we know that it's taken twice as long to get two baskets. >> And we know that nobody and we know that not many other people have any interest. >> So the guys the guys who put bread on the table aren't there. >> That's not where they're going.
>> I don't see how you know that there that that there's 20% seat. >> Uh there is. >> No, trust me. No, I'm talking myself. >> Forget >> one one of the buyers has reported back
>> and in fraction one person. >> No, no, >> more than one person. >> Yeah. >> Everyone who's from Westport who sells there. >> They've been they counted. >> He says we're done. >> So it's >> I don't think you got to worry about it anymore because he's not buying. >> We're only talking about three fishes up
there. >> And it's not a threat. It's a I'm done. And I'm going tell you something. and he puts bread on his table too and for him to throw away this town and say I'm not buying there anymore >> before he >> trying to send a message >> a long time he said no to
>> which >> to us that's you know it's what we that's what we do we're here to protect the fishery >> you know all the fisheries >> Mr. Chair, can I ask a question? >> Feel free. >> So, there are several metrics
>> that fisheries managers use to determine the state of a stock. Now, just trying to count how many fish are in the sea is difficult, but there are metrics that are applied to that. Uh, catch per unit effort comes to mind. Uh, days at sea
come to mind. individual fishing quotas. There are many ways with which one can manage a particular fishery. My question to all of you is what metric would you use? Now you say we don't know how many oysters are up there. Well, if you had
the opportunity to go up there and determine that, what metric would you use? >> A grid method. >> Mark the mark the area out in a grid and sample each area. We did that. We did the west the uh the watershed alliance
had a grant maybe six years ago where they were studying the uh the dissolved oxygen depletion of dissolved oxygen going under the bridge because of the uh the rubble that was left when they didn't they they worked on the bridge.
So the a person from the west the wershed alliance had a had a grant to study um the effect of the dissolved oxygen on the oyster population north of the bridge. So John Warden and I Gary Sherman we had divers we put out a grid
we put out different um uh cages with oysters in them to see how they survived. It was it was a grant that I don't think everyone knew, but um it was a you I think you would you would mark it out as a grid and you'd sample each
spot and say this is how many we got out of each out of each square out of the grid and that would give you an idea of exactly how much you'd have there without you know like uh some fisherman saying well I tried here I tried there I didn't try a lot of places they didn't
try I still think there's a lot of virgin bottom on that hasn't been tracked. Everybody's, I think, going for a couple of little spots in that area. >> So, I think a grid method would be the way to do it systematically with edit
data. >> So, you're talking something similar to a troll survey where the same spots are hit every year, >> right? >> But if you're going to do that, then you're going to have to size them all out. You need percentages of juveniles, percentage of adults, so on so forth. Or
you could just go what what's marketable and what's not. >> That's probably why it was a grant. So >> a lot of money. >> Just just a question out there that that Jack, you make point that there's a lot of good territory down there.
>> Why is nobody fishing it? >> Virgin Bottom because it's because it's >> Why Why aren't you fishing it? >> I am. >> I see you. I know where you are. >> I'm slowly retiring. I'm like just like >> That's not the point. Uh, no. The point is is that why aren't those supposedly
virgin areas >> Yeah. >> being fished? >> They're not. >> The pictures that I show sent you the other day, those are spots that never were hit. I mean, they were around there, but they're secret spots. Yeah. >> No, just just like areas that haven't
been >> not in the in the area in the middle where everybody >> But >> I think we're pretty thorough when we go out there. But if that >> there's 15 of us. >> If that's Virgin If that's Virgin area that you sent me those pictures from.
>> What's that? >> If you say if that's Virgin area that you took those pictures from, it took 6 hours to get two baskets. That's a fact. >> Took six hours for who? >> To get two baskets. >> Me >> that day. Three hours.
>> And a guy Colin. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Well, well, that that's >> that's a huge piece of the equation that we again this we're talking about the future here. So, if we want to establish met metrics
>> then I would think and I would suggest that we have to close the areas so we can get an accurate study. Can't get an accurate study with people going up there and digging around where we're trying to get an accurate study. Usually when they do a metric
examination is off limits. >> Well exposure. So >> when you see some weather we got plenty of time. Five days out of whack. >> Oh going to be shut down. >> We're closed now till Friday. >> There we go.
>> You know >> I got a question. If you close it down, can people get the their money back for their licenses? >> That's not a question. That's not a question for this board. >> Open everywhere else then. No, >> there are other areas in the river to
fish for oysters. So, if somebody's I that's not this board's purview. Um but all this board can say is that there are other areas within the Westport River. >> So, are you voting tonight on closure or
no closure or you going to take in consideration what Dean Jr. was mentioning? maybe you know like cut it down certain days. >> Depends on what the motion is. >> Yeah. What what just historic just a
historical perspective when we went from three bushels to two that was suggested as an alternative and it was overwhelming to go down to two baskets as opposed to leaving it at three and fishing Monday, Wednesday and Friday which the alternative days of cohogs.
>> So that has been out there and discussed in the past. Any other comments at this point? Oh, >> uh, if I could, u, Mr. Chair, we did, uh, reach out to, um, a gentleman, uh at
Division of Marine Fisheries, uh, Eric Alrich, I think is his name. He's the, uh, data guy. And he came back with, this was before I started wearing this, so this was last
year sometime. I asked him for um harvest results from Westport oysters. So, anything in BB4 that was wild. And he gave us the numbers in pieces, not in bushels, but
in pieces going back to I think it was 19, was it Rick? >> Yes. >> Maybe there was one year, it must have been 23 that stood out. Now granted, there are weather days and
rain days to consider. I don't know what those numbers are, but in 20 three there were 220,000 some pieces that were recorded. I don't know what was sold on the cuff. This is
what was recorded through SAP, which of course is what you have to do to legally sell here. the year after that, which would have been 24. I think that number was down to 70,000, but don't hold me to that. Um, >> yeah, I got them here. 71,000.
>> Yeah. >> 71. So, >> 24. >> Yeah. >> So, you've got those numbers, Ron. Yeah. Can you just read those off? >> Okay. Most years we there was about uh 300,000 oysters pieces going back to
2019. And then in 23, that must have been the year when there would be like 10 12 boats out there. There was it was 222,000 pieces. And then last year it was just 71,000 pieces.
So you can see that the catch has dropped off considerably. >> That seems to be one year out of all the years. >> Yeah, there's a lot of stuff missing on here. Like >> I think we're going to get a lot more
data on uh how many days were fished. >> Yeah. >> So that way we could tell the rain dates cuz you got to put the date you catch. >> If you want to break that down into bushels, just divide it by 400. 400 pieces to a bush was about perfect, >> right? But like Ron says, we're waiting
on further data which will give you the rain days or the closure, not the rain days, but the closure days or the Yeah, the rain days. Um >> I did ask uh the same guy just uh last week if he could provide us with 2025's
info. Uh, and as the chief mentioned, uh, how many actual fishing days, how many actual days per fisherman just to kind of get a better sense of it. Uh, I have not heard back from him yet, even though I did ask
for a rush on this. Um, takes a little bit of time. It took a few weeks to get that data that we have right now. >> 66%. >> I just wanted to mention I spoke with the buyer about that 200 220,000 pieces.
He said that was not all from the regular tickets. That also came from some other source in the river. Not not the gra. >> I don't know what but it was not all from it was like 70,000 and then another 40,000
from some other source. Not not the guys talking. >> This is just wild oysters harvested in the Westport River that was recorded through Safus. Now, somebody's selling cash. Not much
we can do about that. We all know that's not legal. >> Um, but this is just what was recorded through DMS. >> You want to look at this? >> Oh, it they must grow awful fast. If the year before was a couple hundred thousand less
and all of a sudden because it was >> probably because it was cleaned out. I don't think that it went from there used to be like five boats, >> right, Jack? Five boats. >> John, >> me and >> Yeah. And then all of a sudden, one year it went up to like 14 boats. And some
boats had two licenses in them. >> This is a This is a 66% decrease year-over-year. The fishery, the harvestable shellfish is down by 66%.
That's alarming. >> But you don't know how many fishermen are doing it versus one year versus another year. >> I think we can all agree. >> Well, I think that tends to be >> has been hit pretty hard. >> I I think that the number of fishermen,
>> you know, it's like a relay area. Everybody pounds it and then it gets less and less and then we wait for the next relay. Well, we need to
the the oysters. We don't have an oyster relay. So, maybe just this one area, not the whole river. Give it a break for a while and let the seed grow. Let them grow. They're going to be
better off left alone. The >> seed seed melt in a bridge is like watching paint dry. >> Hold them over. >> Well, this is this is uh >> Well, watching Tatog grow, whatever you want to call it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I I I'm not I'm
not saying you're wrong. >> No, I'm not saying you're right or wrong or whatever. I'm just saying I'm just saying that it it's It's time to give it a break. Let it come back. Are you going to, you
know, hopefully we'll all be around to to see it see it healthier >> because it's not healthy now. >> See, that's kind of we disagree. I think it's pretty healthy. >> Well, well, you know, the numbers the
numbers aren't there. >> To Chris's point, the number the number the numbers aren't there right now. We're hearing conjecture. Okay. The numbers aren't there. We know it. You know it. Everybody knows it. Nobody wants to take money out of anyone's pocket. That's a discussion for another
group somewhere else. Not for this year. The point here is our concern is the future of this fishery. And right now the numbers historically going back a few years, we went to two baskets for a reason. And everyone in
this room was there to agree we're going to two baskets for one reason and one reason only because we're over fishing it >> now the two basket >> to make it last >> to make it last. And what has happened in two years because we went to two baskets effective the fishing year of 2024. Here we are a year and a half out
from that and it's dropping off. The fishes are dropping off. Yeah, that'll take the pressure off, but that isn't going to help the reproductive system, and that's not going to help the growth of the fishery. Our goal is to produce
and protect the growth of the fishery for either us as we age or those who follow behind us. There's the other side of the po coin, too, is that that fishery up there is huge to the health of this river. And without that oyster
population up there, it changes the whole health of this river. And I don't mean just clean water. Togg, small fish, crabs, everything else feeds off these oyster beds or what washes downstream. So we have to keep that in mind as we go
forward. It's just not catching two baskets of oysters at 3 in and oyster and taking it to wherever and selling them. It's a it's a bigger issue that we're trying to put our arms around here. So, I mean, we can beat this to death all night. I would
like to ask if there's or ask the members of the committee to move this along and see if there's a motion. >> I'll make a motion that we find a happy medium and close it three days a three days a week. >> I think it has to be a little bit more specific than that. All
>> right. I make a motion that we uh leave the oysters open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Do I have a second? Hearing none. Motion fails. >> I see. >> You try. You try.
>> Any other motion? >> Well, if we don't hear a motion, it's status quo. We We really can't move on it. Um >> All right. I will I would like to say that I think that when we went from
three baskets to two, we did that with a lot of thought and in the hopes that we could slow down the degeneration of the resource up there. And also in the back of our
minds, we knew that would probably ease some of the pressure on the fishery cuz some guys might not think it was worth going for two. And it did. It backed off the 12 or 14 boats down to four or five. And it backed off the resource from
three to two. And it still seems to be in a serious decline. For me, I really wasn't sold on what to do until Ron pulled his numbers and it went down by 66%. And what Bill said before, I totally
agree with. When we think it's time to monitor a fishery or regulate it, it's usually too late. And I've been in the fishery business for a long time and I've seen that come to fruition. stripe bass,
cod, hadock. I've seen it. With that being said, I am going to make a motion that we close the fishery effective immediately. But
we as a board take up gentlemen like him that's offered to take us into the area with knowledge that fishermen have like Jack and areas that you think are good and prove
to us that it can be reopened either on a limited basis or not a limited basis. So I guess my motion would be to close the fishery immediately upon further review to work with the fisherman to try and establish
a benchmark and to maybe have a meeting for four weeks from now where we can review that data and possibly reopen at that time or possibly reinforce the fact that it
needs to stay closed. Do I have a second? Um, >> you say the fish. >> You need a second. And then >> north north of the bridge. >> The area, not the fishery. The area north of the bridge. >> We need we need >> because you can still oyster. Now
>> for discussion. >> Yeah, I'll second that amendment. >> Second by Ron. Okay. Discussion >> on the amendment. There's a discussion I got is I don't know if we can get somebody from Roger Williams who will say within a square yard how many adult
oysters you should have or find that knowledge somewhere. You guys are going to class. I think it's important for us in this interim closure period to do to find out
how to manage this fishery by saying to the people in the no what is considered healthy, what's considered sustainable and what's considered unsustainable.
I personally feel that a lot of the problem up north of that bridge is the silt. When I was a kid, you could never go over Hicks Bridge, look north and see a mud flat halfway from the river to the
shore. And that's all that silt and kelp and all that that's just building up. And I think, you know, what we need up there is is culch. That's really what needs to be put up there because the conditions are good, but I I feel like the bottom for them to grow on is
disappearing. I think that's really the problem. Unfortunately, I think it's that more than it's over fishing. I think that it's just that the bottom is disappearing and these things just can't grow like they used to grow. >> When they spat out on that old shell that's down there, they're not going to
stick. It's decaying. It's no good. It's slimed up. Only way oy juice sticks to anything is if it can actually stick to it. Has to be clean, dry, not slimed up. >> I mean, if you talk about this river from from 1965
to 1995, you couldn't even Jack, you know, you you you couldn't even swim >> Yeah. >> north of Cadman's Neck because you'd get all cut up. There was so many oysters up there from Cadman's north and then from Cadman south. There was a lot of
oysters. You could walk along the shore anywhere and pick them up. >> Well, back to what you were talking about, Skip. I think that's very fair. >> I think that's a good idea. >> I mean, I think we need to know. >> We need to know rather than, you know, I mean, I believe everything that
everybody's saying. I think what you just brought up as a closure and then um a study and then come back to the table and say what we find. Hopefully you guys will help us out because
you know the boats and hey this is where I think it's good and this is you know this is where I think it's no good and well to follow up Skip's um is discussion to follow up Skip's uh amendment u motion I'm going to turn
this into amendment and amendment I would like to think that we'd need more time than a month um to do it right. We have ice coming in next week. The week after
is going to be temperatures going to be horrific. We can't get up there. Um so in the next two weeks, we're pretty much guaranteed being iced out of there. >> I mean, I think we can look at it next meeting and if we at that point have inconclusive evidence, and we have inconclusive evidence, but once it gets
closed, it's closed. >> Correct. Correct. It >> It won't be reopened in a month. That'll be reopened once we all agree to reopen it. Well, why don't maybe we could close it for four close it and have
whomever report back to this. We'll set another date. Report back in four weeks if we can get up there. >> Um, you know, this weekend is looking at the long-term weather. We're not going to be much above freezing for the next two weeks after this week. Um, this week it can't happen. It's not going to be
able to get up there. There's just too much going on. But um we will gladly I I can speak. Um and I I I think Captain Chase will agree we can we can make this work. Um but we can't be backed into if
we can't get up there, you know. So we >> like I say though, we don't have those. >> We're going to we're going to close it. We're not closing it for a certain amount of time. It's closed. >> Close it. It'll be reopened when we get the evidence, however long that takes. It'd be great if we get the evidence in
two weeks. It'll stink if it takes four months. >> And then you then you're going to decide on what the guidelines are to reopen it. >> Yeah. >> What? >> Well, that's what I was thinking about getting somebody an expert from Roger Williams. Good. >> Yeah. Or somewhere else. >> Just don't promise. Or even the state. >> The state.
>> You know what I mean? >> Mr. Chair, if I could just This is just a comment period. To to Ron's point, I want to kind of blow our own horn for a little bit. Rick and I have developed some pretty good relationships with the
folks that know these things, be it Roger Williams, the Nature Conservancy, DMF folks. You you all are familiar with the Oyster Restoration Project. I don't think it's a a big lift to say we're going to bring some experts in and
we can find out exactly what the hell's going on because what I think what we're disagreeing on right here is the metric that we use to determine the state of that general area. We in agreement on that? Mhm. >> So that being the case, if this motion carries,
our first call will be to one of those folks and say, "We need an assessment of the oyster beds north of Hicks Bridge. What can you do for us?" >> Right? And then we can take it from there. Then once that's completed, then we we're all sharing the same information.
>> We're all speaking from the same place. >> So that that's my only comment on that. bipartisan also the person doing the work. >> You know, if you get help from outside, they'll be bipartisan. They don't >> they're not, you know,
if we're doing it, they'll say it's because we want to keep it closed. If they're doing it, we'll say it's because they want to keep it open. So, it's nice to have an opinion from somebody who has no no >> any any further discussion on Skip's motion.
>> Okay. Skip, could you just clarify that for the record? >> So, I would like to make a motion to make an immediate closure of the area north of Hicksbridge pending further further stock assessment.
>> Well, I'll second. >> Okay, we have a motion. It's seconded. It's been discussed. I want to put it to a vote. All in favor, skip Manchester's motion say I. >> I. I >> I >> oppose.
Motion carries. It's unanimous. Thank you, Skip. All right, moving on to the next item. Item number and thank you, by the way, for everybody input and discussion. I think this is healthy and we all we've come up with a solution that I think
might work for all of us. Um, number five, discussion of the dates for David Road opening in the spring of 2026. We've batted this around a little bit, so I throw that open for discussion to the board.
>> We got discussed uh spring. >> You you read very well, you know, as I said spring. >> Go ahead, Chris. I'm uh input, Paul. Maybe we should open it sooner now
for you know >> Paul Paul could you just step up so we can have it on the on the tape. It's perfect height for you. >> All right. So I don't know maybe we should open it sooner than later because of the rain and being if we open too
late then we get into the summer get more rain. So just maybe a little earlier. >> Yeah. My only issue with that is the that we would then have one, two, three,
four relay areas open >> open >> and hopefully the relay will start up again in April, May, May. >> Yeah. 45 degrees. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But bear in mind, two of those
relay areas are in point 2 areas. >> So David Road and over Great Island. Yes. So, >> what was the what was the date we had planned last meeting? Anybody remember? Oh, we didn't. >> February.
>> Thank you, Paul. >> That was up in the air first. >> I think we just tabled it last year, didn't we? >> Yeah, we didn't. >> It was still up in the air. We didn't really make a decision. >> It got last May. >> Yeah. >> Was here, but definitely before
summer. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, cuz there will be a lot of boats in there somewhere in history. >> Yeah, there's the mo the moorings are bad enough with no boats on them. >> All it's going to take is somebody to hit the boat once. Then you know what happened at Petty Heights? >> Yep. >> So, we're better off maybe. I don't
know. >> Somebody else has something to say. >> I don't know. >> Any other comments from >> the me members public members of the public? >> Well, I don't think you should open it tomorrow. I'll tell you that because it's a bad month at the dealer
selling the show. Definitely might do March. >> When do you think it would improve? In April. >> Okay. >> March is just about all the time. >> Yeah. And kind of looks like these other areas are producing
that are open. >> Isn't there a um not a date but a time frame where that red seaweed starts to accumulate? >> You'd have to ask the red weed. I I don't know. >> They don't seem to get that at David Road.
>> Normally, it's like in Ram Island towards the other side. >> Yeah. You don't get >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion on the table on David Road? >> April. April.
Yeah. I'll make a motion and we open that the second uh second Tuesday in April. >> That would be the seventh. >> That's Tuesday. Tuesday. >> Yes. >> Yeah.
>> Sound good? Any complaints? >> Okay. We have a motion on the table. Do we have a second on April 7th, 2026, which is a Tuesday, to open David Road relay area >> rainfall
permitting? >> Well, I'll live within a >> I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> Yep. >> Any further discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I oppose. Unanimous. Thank you very much. Moving
on. Any other items? Item number six. Any other items not anticipated within the last 48 hours? Hearing none, I'll move on to number seven, the next meeting date. Today is the 13th.
You want to go out a month? >> You want to try to make sure you got time to get a proper assessment about the bridge? >> Well, we can always move that if we have to. I mean, we're we don't want honestly, Scott, I don't want to move it too far down.
>> Rush to do that either. >> Yeah. I mean, if it if we get the data back, we get it back. If we don't, >> you know, >> but you know, we're going to be in February >> and it's it's going to be getting late. The only thing is what I would strongly what I would ask the board is that we
move this meeting to another night in a week because of the Roger Williams program. um that two of us will be tied up at that's on Tuesday nights. So >> I would make a suggestion we go
to Wednesday rather than Monday because Mondays I have conflicts. >> Yeah, we Monday >> I have conflicts on Monday >> and it's a select board is in here as well. So >> So how about how about we look at February 24th? >> It's six weeks Tuesday. Oh, sorry. 25th.
I just went against what I suggested. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> February 25th. >> 2:25. Okay. I have a motion for Wednesday 2:25 at 17:30 hours. Any further discussion? Hearing none.
Can I have a >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. None. Wednesday 2:25. We will meet here at 17:30 unless something changes. Um, okay. Having that, can I have a motion for adjournment?
>> I second that. All in favor? >> I I unanimous. Meetings adjourned at 1850 hours. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you people for coming tonight.