HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Southside Shellfish Habitat Rating Study ProtocolTown of Barnstable
Marine and Environmental Affairs Department
1189 Phinneys Lane, Centerville MA 02632
www.town.barnstable.ma.us
Natural Resources 508-790-6272 Derek Lawson, Director
Harbormaster 508-790-62 Office: 508-790-6273
Animal Control 508-790-6274 FAX: 508-790-6275
Sandy Neck 508-790-6272
Gatehouse 508-362-8300 (April – Nov)
TO: Amy Croteau (new participant), Thomas Marcotti, Kris Clark, David Ryan
(new participant), Jake Angelo (new participant), Patricia Farinha (new
participant), Corey Hendricks (new participant), Ken Aittaniemi, Mark
Lazzari (new participant), Elizabeth Lewis (new participant).
FROM: Natural Resources
DATE: July 6, 2022
RE: Significant Shellfish Resource and Habitat Area Mapping Project for
Selected Embayments of the Town of Barnstable.
Your assistance is requested in completing questionnaire maps of southside embayments of
the Town of Barnstable. New individuals with expertise in local shellfish resources will
replace many of the original participants due to varying circumstances.
Background
During the year 2000, the Pier Committee requested Natural Resources to formulate a sub-
committee to undertake the task of mapping significant shellfish resource and habitat areas
in the Three Bays Area. The sub-committee was comprised of individuals with wide
ranging expertise in evaluating the Town’s shellfish resources. Listed below are the sub-
committee participants:
Doug Kalweit, Supervisor, Natural Resources, Town of Barnstable;
Thomas Marcotti, Shellfish Biologist, Natural Resources, Town of Barnstable;
Kris Clark, Shellfish Farm Manager, Mashpee Wampanoa g Tribe
Darcy Karle, Conservation Agent, Conservation Division, Town of Barnstable;
Neil Churchill, Marine Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries;
John Nawoichik, Commercial Shellfisherman/Aquaculturist, Town of Barnstable;
Norman White, Commercial Shellfisherman, Town of Barnstable.
Ken Aittaniemi, Commercial Shellfisherman, Town of Barnstable;
(replaces Les Hemmila, Commercial Shellfisherman/Aquaculturist,
Shellfish Committee Member, Town of Barnstable)
Kirsten Friedrich, Recreational Shellfisherwoman
(replaces Paul Caruso, Marine Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries);
Chris Freeman, Commercial Shellfisherman
(Replaces Robert Lister, Commercial Shellfisherman, who replaced Tiasto Ranta, (former) Supervisor,
Natural Resources, Town of Barnstable)
Meetings of the sub-committee were held on July 27, 2000 and August 2, 2000. Each
participant of the sub-committee contributed to determining significant shellfish resource
and habitat areas along the shoreline of the Three Bays Area. The criteria used to determine
significance by each individual was subjective analysis as to where each harvested shellfish
on a recreational, commercial, scientific, management or other basis, in a current and/or
historical context. Town and State governmental agencies staff assessed areas on their
particular knowledge of the resource areas. Present standing shellfish resource populations
did not weigh heavily in the determination of significant shellfish resource and habitat
areas due to periodically depleted stocks or absence of current shellfish recruitment in an
area. All the individual maps were combined and by consensus a final map was
determined. Shellfish Relay Areas were determined by the Natural Resources staff. The
maps were produced by Natural Resources staff and Geographical Information Systems
Department staff.
At the August 21st, 2000 meeting, the Pier Committee requested that the designated areas
determined and mapped to be significant shellfish habitat by the sub-committee be rated by
collective determination. Any one area as defined on the map would be assigned a number
value according to the total number of participants that determined that area to be
significant shellfish habitat. Number values and maps illustrating these values for the Three
Bays Area were generated for this purpose.
During 2005 the Natural Resources Sub-Committee to the Year 2000 Pier Committee
completed a study of significant shellfish habitats in other Southside embayments of the
Town of Barnstable outside of the Three Bays.
Once again, during 2015 the Conservation Commission requested Natural Resources to
request the sub-committee to undertake the task of reviewing the significant shellfish
habitat areas along the designated shorelines of the Southside embayments of the Town.
The Conservation Commission and the Natural Resources Office determined that the
current methodology of determining significant shellfish habitats should remain mostly
consistent with the methodology practiced by the year 2000 Natural Resources Sub-
Committee to the Pier Committee. Natural Resources has tried to get the participants of the
original year 2000 Natural Resources Sub-Committee for the current study, and again for
the 2016 study, but most members have been replaced by new members over this time due
to various circumstances.
Current Request
Natural Resources is requesting your assistance in reviewing the significant shellfish
habitat areas along the designated shorelines in the Three Bays for the 2021/2022
assessment.
Directions for Determining Significance and Completing Shoreline Maps
On the maps that you will receive, use your own individual knowledge, to the best of your
ability, to determine if each designated shoreline area is “significant” or “not significant” as
shellfish habitat. For the purposes of this study, consider the substrate and marine
environment significant for shellfish in any portion of, or all of, the intertidal shoreline area
between approximately 200 feet landward and the subtidal shoreline area approximately
200 feet seaward of the mean low water line (MLW) for each mapped area. For each
overlapping area, consider the shorter distance up to the intersection point where other
shoreline area distances overlap, such as in narrow rivers. (i.e., Centerville River).
The areas are highlighted in yellow and red only to illustrate where a designated se ction of
the shoreline to be evaluated begins and ends. On each map put a check in the appropriate
category box for each shoreline section demarcated and labeled on the map. If you have no
knowledge of any particular area please put a check in the “not familiar with area” category
box for that area.
As a note, the concept of “significant” shellfish habitat is not definitively defined in
research studies by the leading scientific and regulatory agencies and institutions that study
and manage marine shellfisheries. So, use your subjective opinion to determine if any
particular area is significant based on your unique use of, or historical knowledge of an
area.
Special Note: Any areas that you mark as unfamiliar count as “not significant” in the
overall rating. Please only use this if you truly do not know the area or do your best to
familiarize yourself with it.
Your Participation
Please follow the directions above for the enclosed maps. Read carefully and do not
hesitate to call with any questions. Please complete and return by Monday August 8, 2022
at 4:15PM. Your knowledge and help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your efforts in these matters,
Elizabeth Lewis
Shellfish Biologist
Marine and Environmental Affairs
Town of Barnstable
508-790-6272
Elizabeth.lewis@town.barnstable.ma.us