HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF Letter NOI Town of Barnstable (Blish Point Boat Ramp Dredge) to Barnstable ConComThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
(617) 626-1520 | mass.gov/MarineFisheries
Maura T. Healey
Governor
Kimberly Driscoll
Lt. Governor
Rebecca L. Tepper
Secretary
Thomas K. O’Shea
Commissioner
Daniel J. McKiernan
Director
November 4, 2026
Barnstable Conservation Commission
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Commissioners:
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent
(NOI) by Griffin Beaudoin from the Town of Barnstable to dredge accumulated material at
the Blish Point Boat Ramp and within Barnstable Harbor at 307 Millway Road in the Town of
Barnstable. The applicant is proposing to remove approximately 175 cubic yards of material off
the Blish Point Boat Ramp, adjacent to the ramp, and at the base of the boat ramp in Barnstable
Harbor. The area will be dredged to -6 feet MLLW (Mean Low Low Water) with a 1-foot allowable
over depth to -7 feet MLLW. The applicant is proposing to transport dredged material offsite and
dispose of it at an approved upland location. The project was reviewed with respect to potential
impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat.
The Blish Point Boat Ramp abuts a horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawning area and
the species has been recorded nesting nearby at Blish Point and Millway beach. Horseshoe
crabs deposit their eggs in the upper intertidal regions of sandy beaches from late spring to
early summer during spring high tides. Adult crabs congregate in deep waters during the day
while they wait to spawn on nearby beaches at night. Eggs hatch approximately two to four
weeks later. The 2024 stock assessment update indicates that the New England horseshoe crab
stock status continues to be neutral [1]. Continued efforts should be made to protect the species
and facilitate further stock improvement.
Barnstable Harbor acts as winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) spawning habitat.
Winter flounder enter the area and spawn from January through May; demersal eggs hatch
approximately 15 to 20 days later. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has
designated winter flounder spawning habitat as a “Habitat Area of Particular Concern” (HAPC).
Every effort should be made to protect the species and its spawning habitat.
MA DMF offers the following comments for your consideration:
• MA DMF generally recommends that no in-water, silt-producing activities such as
dredging take place from February 1st – June 30th of any year in Barnstable Harbor to
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protect winter flounder during the spawning, larval settlement, and juvenile development
phases [2]. Given that the proposed dredge footprint only contains a small subtidal area
and is in a boat ramp area that is routinely disturbed, MA DMF does not recommend a
winter flounder time-of-year (TOY) restriction for this project.
• A time-of-year (TOY) restriction is recommended to protect sensitive life stages of
horseshoe crabs from dredging activities near potential nesting beaches. Since the
proposed dredge work includes both subtidal and intertidal habitats, MA DMF
recommends a combined in-water and nesting beach TOY of May 1 – July 31 of any year
to protect both adult horseshoe crabs staging to spawn as well as eggs, larvae, and newly
settled juveniles [2].
• The applicant may request a horseshoe crab time of year restriction incursion waiver for
the proposed work. Incursion waiver requests should be emailed to Amanda Davis at
amanda.davis@mass.gov and should detail the proposed volume, a delineated map of
the proposed work, placement of the material, and proposed timing of the activities.
• Fuel spills from refueling of construction equipment will adversely impact sensitive
resource areas. Impacts to resource areas can be avoided by prohibiting all land-based
equipment from being refueled on-site. If equipment is refueled on-site, adequate
containment and clean-up material should be required to minimize impacts.
Questions regarding this review may be directed to Amanda Davis at amanda.davis@mass.gov.
Sincerely,
Amanda Davis
Environmental Analyst
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
cc:
Jimmy Hill, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC
John Logan, Alicia Hecht, Derek Perry, Holly Williams, Matt Camisa, MA DMF
Amy Croteau, Barnstable Shellfish Constable
Patrice Bordonaro, CZM
References:
1. ASMFC. 2024. 2024 Horseshoe Crab Benchmark Stock Assessment Update. Prepared by
the ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Subcommittee pursuant to NOAA Award
No. NA20NMF4740012.
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http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/663d0fcdHorseshoeCrabStockAssessmentUpdate_Apr
il2024.pdf
2. Evans, N.T., K.H. Ford, B.C. Chase, and J. Sheppard. 2011. Recommended Time of Year
Restrictions (TOYs) for Coastal Alteration Projects to Protect Marine Fisheries Resources in
Massachusetts. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report, TR-47.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/time-of-year-recommendations-tr-47/download