HomeMy WebLinkAboutDMF Letter HyannisHarborTours to ConComThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries
(617) 626-1520 | www.mass.gov/marinefisheries
MAURA T. HEALEY KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL REBECCA L. TEPPER THOMAS K. O’SHEA DANIEL J. MCKIERNAN
Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Commissioner Director
SOUTH COAST FIELD STATION CAT COVE MARINE LABORATORY NORTH SHORE FIELD STATION
836 S. Rodney French Blvd 92 Fort Avenue 30 Emerson Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02744 Salem, MA 01970 Gloucester, MA 01930
April 2, 2024
Barnstable Conservation Commission
367 Main Street
Barnstable, MA 02601
Dear Commissioners:
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) has reviewed the Notice of Intent
by Hyannis Harbor Tours to conduct emergency dredging within Hyannis Harbor at 220 Ocean
Street in the Town of Barnstable. The project description within the NOI also notes the NOI is to
permit future maintenance dredging as needed. The project was reviewed with respect to
potential impacts to marine fisheries resources and habitat.
Hyannis 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).
In the previous stock assessment, the winter flounder stock was classified as overfished with
spawning stock biomass in 2019 estimated to be only 32% of the biomass target [1]. Spawning
stock biomass in 2021 was estimated to be 101% of the biomass target based on a new
recruitment stanza focusing only on the past twenty years [2]. Given the new status of the winter
flounder stock, every effort should be made to protect the species and its spawning habitat.
MA DMF offers the following comment for your consideration:
• A time-of-year (TOY) restriction should be observed on all in-water, silt-producing
activities to protect sensitive life stages of winter flounder [3]. No dredging or in-water,
silt-producing activities should take place from January 15th – May 31st of any year.
However, work may occur within this TOY period if a turbidity barrier is installed
outside of this TOY period.
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:
Robert Braman, Braman Surveying & Association, LLC.
Drafted 2016; Updated 2023
2
John Logan, Kara Falvey, Malik Neron, MA DMF
Patrice Bordonaro, CZM
References:
1. ASMFC. 2020. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2020 Assessment
Update Report. http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/6008bd822020_SNE-
MA_WinterFlounderAssessmentUpdate.pdf
2. ASMFC. 2022. Southern New England Mid-Atlantic Winter Flounder 2022 Management
Track Assessment Report. Compiled June 2022. https://apps-
nefsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/saw/sasi.php
3. 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