Updated September 19 to correct acting chair and committee plan for selecting a new chair.
At the Shellfish Conservation Commission September 5 meeting, Kevin Oliver stepped down as chair after nearly three years in the role. Vice-chair Len Kaminow became acting chair by consensus. Judy Colby-George will continue as secretary.
Oliver said his decision was partially due to a recent Town Council vote to overrule ordinance amendment recommendation from the Shellfish Conservation Commission.
During the April 20 council meeting, former council chair, Tim Shannon, described the proposal as “territorialism and parochialism” based policy. The Council voted 6-1 to retain the previous license limits. Council member Randall Bates opposed the revised amendment.
A long-time member and only commercial harvester on the committee, Oliver previously served several years as secretary and then as vice chair. Discussion of appointing a new chair will continue at the next meeting. Typically, the committee elects a chair in January.
The committee did not have a quorum for May or June meetings.
A shellfish mudflats survey rescheduled to September 22 will be the 2nd and last assessment of the year. The committee conducted a survey at Lanes Island earlier this year. Registration to participate is not required, but residents who wish to join are encouraged to contact the Yarmouth Town Clerk, Lisa Grant, at 207-846-9036 or lmgrant@yarmouth.me.us to state their interest.
The committee plans to explore options to outsource surveys and funding. Currently, the surveys are conducted in limited, rotating zones. A full survey could give more accurate data regarding resource status. Data could be used to determine ordinance updates for the number of available licenses, impose a conservation closure, or even open currently closed zones.
Following the North Yarmouth Select Board's decision to not reappoint Stephen Demelle, there is one vacancy on the committee.
The next meeting will be October 3.