Oak Bluffs selectmen must give town shellfish constable David Grunden their full support, and not second-guess his decision to close off the Oak Bluffs side of Sengekontacket to scallopers. Not to do so undercuts the authority he needs to do a difficult job, and it replicates the downward spiral that has played out on a larger scale for decades — weak-kneed politicians succumb to pressure from commercial fishermen and water down scientific recommendations intended to preserve a fishery, resulting in half-measures that later become quarter-measures, until there is virtually no resource left to manage, as in the case of cod.
Research scientist Wynn W. Cudmore, author of “The Decline of Atlantic Cod — A Case Study,” put simply, said the management agency, in this case the New England Fishery Management Council, responded more effectively to the economic health of the fishing industry and coastal fishing communities than to the long-term condition of the groundfish resources.
Mr. Grunden, with the full support of the town shellfish committee, which includes commercial fishermen, made the decision to close the saltpond to all scalloping because his surveys showed a high percentage of seed, or sexully immature scallops, and relatively few legal adults. Mr. Grunden understands that those seed represent the future harvest.
As reporter Barry Stringfellow reported last week (Nov. 12, “Oak Bluffs Sengie scalloping closure challenged by fisherman”), at a meeting of the Oak Bluffs selectmen on Nov. 10, commercial fisherman Kyle Peters asked selectmen to overrule their shellfish constable and open Sengekontacket to divers. Mr. Peters said in his view, there was an abundant population of adults.
He argued that divers, unlike scallopers who rely on heavy drags, can selectively harvest only adults. And he said because scallops have a two-year life span, those adults not harvested this year would die.
Understandably, Mr. Peters spoke in his best interests. Mr. Grunden spoke in the best interests of the resource. Erring on the side of the fishery is not a bad way to go. The fact that some adults might go unharvested is not an argument for short-term gain for a few over long-term benefits for the majority of scallopers, who include recreational fishermen, the majority of license holders, who harvest for the family freezer.
Rather than giving their shellfish constable the support he deserved, various selectmen dove in head — rather feet — first.
Selectman Walter Vail noted Edgartown, which allows dipnetting, did not close its side of Sengekontacket to scalloping, and expressed concern about a double standard. Mr. Vail ought to have praised his constable for his singlehanded willingness to make a tough decision, one that Edgartown has yet to make in Cape Poge, despite clear evidence of an abundance of seed.
Selectman Greg Coogan suggested perhaps there was room for “a compromise.” The spiral of poor fisheries management is filled with compromises politicians pushed onto fisheries managers.
Selectman Gail Barmakian said that if Mr. Peters could show there is an adult population in the pond, “it might be worth another look.” By whom? The town shellfish constable, who has already taken a look and provided his professional assessment?
As Mr. Stringfellow reported in today’s edition (“Oak Bluffs shellfish constable says seed scallop must be protected”), on Monday an exploratory dive backed Mr. Grunden’s decision.
Scalloping is tough but very lucrative work. In a good year, commercial scallopers can earn several hundred dollars a day, welcome money that helps fuel the Island’s winter economy. In off-years that fishery should not be supported at the expense of next year’s fishery.
To be clear, unlike pot and inshore net fishermen, who rely on a wild harvest, commercial scallopers participate in taxpayer-subsidized aquaculture. It is for the most part a put-and-take fishery. Taxpayers, most of whom do not go clamming or scalloping, buy the seed and fund shellfish management and resource protection in their town budgets that overwhelmingly benefit commercial fishermen, yet there are commercial fishermen who complain about the very measures that protect their paychecks, and a few undermine those efforts.
Last week, someone stole Oak Bluffs shellfish department equipment and vandalized shellfish constable David Grunden’s vehicle. There is no excuse for that type of thuggery, and those responsible need to be identified.
Island selectmen and responsible fishermen must back the efforts of constables when they make difficult, often unpopular decisions to protect a resource that benefits us all.