HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-2024 Christine Perron presentation Nantucket Sound US Coast GuardNantucket Sound
Aids to Navigation
Colliers Ledge Isolated Danger VAIS
Southwest Rock Day Beacon
Barnstable
DEP# 003-6216
The US Coast Guard’s
top priority is marine
public safety.
•Based on information received, there
is a vessel strike at Colliers Ledge
once a year on average that requires
an emergency call for service, and up
to 9 of these incidents have occurred
since 2020, with two occurring this
year.
•The Barnstable Harbormaster and the
Waterways Committee support the
removal of rocks due to the public
safety concerns.
•For these reasons, the Coast Guard continues to seek approval for the removal of rocks to 7 feet below MLLW.
Colliers Ledge
VAIS
Colliers Ledge VAIS
Southwest Rock
Daybeacon
Southwest Rock Daybeacon
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
The Colliers Ledge and Southwest Rock areas support an active recreational
fishery and provide seasonal habitat for commercially and recreationally important
species such as longfin squid, black sea bass, scup, tautog, and striped bass.
Collier Ledge functions as structured fish habitat in Nantucket Sound, an area of
limited structured habitat relative to other coastal areas of the Commonwealth.
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
If removing these structures is deemed necessary to maintain safe navigation:
❑MA DMF recommends removing only the uppermost portions of riprap from each structure. Leaving the subtidal foundational riprap in place would allow for the preservation of some of the existing fish habitat while also addressing navigational safety concerns.
❑Some ecological benefit could be retained by contributing the material to nearby artificial reefs. Currently there are two permitted artificial reef sites in Nantucket Sound in Yarmouth and Harwich.
❑To protect squid eggs, MA DMF recommends a time-of-year restriction for any material removal and relocation activities from April 15 to June 15.
MA Division of Marine Fisheries
If removing these structures is deemed necessary to maintain safe navigation:
❑MA DMF recommends removing only the uppermost portions of riprap from each structure. Leaving the subtidal foundational riprap in place would allow for the preservation of some of the existing fish habitat while also addressing navigational safety concerns.
❑The proposed plan will leave 3-4 feet of subtidal riprap in place.
❑Some ecological benefit could be retained by contributing the material to nearby artificial reefs. Currently there are two permitted artificial reef sites in Nantucket Sound in Yarmouth and Harwich.
❑The Coast Guard is open to the idea of moving the material to artificial reefs and will continue coordinating with DMF.
❑To protect squid eggs, MA DMF recommends a time-of-year restriction for any material removal and relocation activities from April 15 to June 15.
❑The work will adhere to this time of year restriction.
THANK YOU