Friday April 11, 2014

The first half of the school day was pretty standard.  I did water quality, shook my oyster bags, and read my project books.  (I go check the bags every day.  I shake them to spread them out in the bag and also to chip them, so they develop a more cupped shape.  I also check for fouling on the bags and lines.  There was some algae growing on the bags, so tomorrow I plan to flip them, and hopefully the sun will dry out the algae and kill it.)  However today was much more interesting, because during the last two blocks I visited the Marion Harbor Master's office.

Walking there was really nice, because of the beautiful weather.  When I got there (I arrived about 10 minutes early.) the office was locked, so I wandered out onto the dock to watch the cranes and boats.  I was later told that the people I was watching were replacing an old concrete dock with a new one.

Right before 1:00, which was the time my meeting was scheduled for, I saw someone on the balcony of the office, so I headed over.  I was greeted, not by Isaac Perry (Marion Shellfish Officer), but by a friend of his named Scotty.  The office is located on the second floor of a small white building.  It was much nicer than I had expected.  I had been expecting an office that was dark, with wood paneling, and a lot of dusty windows.  However there was plenty of natural light, the desks were glass tabletops on metal frames, and there was a large sliding door to let air through.  If I ever wanted a cabin on the beach, I would want it to look a lot like that office.

Scotty was an amazing person to talk to!  And when I saw talk to, I really mean listen to, because he was a wealth of information.  The first thing we tackled was getting a permit.  Scotty explained that permitting is different from town to town and state to state.  Here in Massachusetts, the towns control the permits.  Each town has it’s own quirks.  Marion for example follows the state permitted use law, and therefore has no bylaws.  The process for obtaining a permit goes as follows.

Step 1: Talk to the Harbor Master and Shellfish Officer to let them know what you are doing and hopefully get them on board with you.

Step 2: Ask the Board of Selectmen to begin and aquaculture permit.  The board will need to talk to the Harbor Master, the Shellfish Officer, and the Marine Resource Commission.  Then they will give you a yes or no.

Step 3: (If Yes) Fill out an Aquaculture License Application.  The application includes information such as the species grown, the culture method for each, the location/parameters of the grant, the principal equipment used, boats, vehicles, ecological impact, navigational uses, and fishing activity in the site. (In Marion, you are allowed ½ acre per year.)

Step 4: The application goes to the Conservation Commission.  They put in their input and fill out a form.

Step 5: Apply to the Army Corps of Engineers and Mass Marine Fisheries.  Also you must write a letter to the Wampanoag and Narragansett Native Americans.

Step 6: Mass Marine Fisheries will complete a bottom survey with divers.  They make sure the grant has no eel-grass and has no more then three shellfish per cubic yard.  If the Mass Marine Fisheries finds the area acceptable, part of the permit will be issued.

Step 7:  The Army Corp of Engineers also will complete a bottom survey.  They make sure there is no eel-grass, but they also make sure waters are navigable and the culture method will be suitable for the area.  (Sometimes floating systems are not allowed due to heavy traffic.)  If the area is suitable, the Army Corp of Engineers will send a letter.

Step 8:  The Wampanoag and Narragansett Native Americans will then have their say in the matter.  Usually they do not have any objections and they don’t much care.  The Native Americans must then write a letter approving the permit.

Step 9:  All approvals are sent to the Board of Selectmen who will decide yes or no.  If the answer is no, the process must be repeated.  If the answer is yes, the matter will be opened to the public for 2 weeks.  Provided there is not excessive hoopla over the matter, the town will then issue the permit.

Step 10:  After obtaining the permit, you must renew it each year.

Obviously getting a permit can be a very arduous process.  However it is fascinating how many steps it takes.  For example I would have never thought of sending a letter to the Native Americans asking for their permission.  Scotty and I talked about more, however, as it does not directly relate to permitting, I will save it for my next blog post.