HomeMy WebLinkAboutComment letter Jacob Angelo FW_ Colliers ledge commentFrom: Karle, Darcy
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 10:46 AM
To: Cavanaugh, Kimberly
Subject: Comment le er Jacob Angelo FW: Colliers ledge comment
Hi Kim,
Please forward this comment le er to the Commissioners and copy the mee ng material.
Thank you
From: Jacob Angelo <jakeangeloseafoods@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 8:21 AM
To: Karle, Darcy <Darcy.Karle@town.barnstable.ma.us>
Subject: Colliers ledge comment
Good morning,
First I’d like to say thank you commission members for your service, it is a hard job and a big commitment.
My name is Jacob Angelo, I grew up on these waters and today I’m a commercial fisherman. Colliers ledge is an established
reef habitat that is important for diversity in our sandy Nantucket Sound ecosystem. That being said there are clearly reports of
people striking it. I ask myself, “why do so many people hit Colliers?” The ocean is full of obstacles, many of which are partially
submerged rocks. The reality is Colliers it is not properly marked. I’ve always wondered why the big red and black aid to
navigation was not closer to the rock pile. The marker is over 100yards to the south west of the partially submerged hazards. A
cautious but inexperienced boater approaching the hazard may assume the marker is on the rock pile and that the buffer they
are providing is enough to be away from the rocks, but in reality causes them to drive right into them.
If you look at any of the pictures of striking incidents you will see that there is nothing in the foreground that would indicate that
the pile was there.
The Coast Guard knows that a skipper must operate at safe, controlled speeds and be fully aware of their surroundings. Very
few boats do not have gps and every gps has Colliers Ledge on it. Rather than holding operators responsible the Coast Guard
is blaming a reef that is an invaluable resource to the town and ecosystem.
A day marker, with a light, or aids to navigation that better mark the rock pile would reduce boat strikes, save our marine
resource, and coast less to the tax payer. Let’s have the Coast Guard mark the rocks properly before we make an irreversible
decision.
- Jacob Angelo
Cell: 508-367-7830
Barnstable Seafood: 774-994-1711