HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommercial Shellfish RegulationsTOWN OF BREWSTER
GENERAL COMMERCIAL SHELLFISH REGULATIONS
ELIGIBILITY
1. Commercial/quahog/scallop/eel/Steamer permits may be granted to any Brewster
resident taxpayer for a fee of $100. Definite proof of domicile/taxpayer status must be
presented at the time of application. Permits shall be forfeited if the holder fails to
maintain his resident/taxpayer status. Applicants for commercial shellfishing licenses
must be bona fide domiciled residents of the Town of Brewster. Residency shall be
established to the satisfaction of the Board of Selectmen. Documentary evidence of
residence/domicile shall include one or more of the following:
A. A current motor vehicle driver's license;
B. A current motor vehicle excise tax bill issued by the Town;
C. A current real estate tax bill issued by the Town;
D. A current lease or rental agreement of applicant's residence/domicile in Town;
E. A current listing on the Town census or list of persons.
2. No person will be issued a Commercial Permit for the Town of Brewster unless they
are in possession of a valid transaction card from the Division of Marine Fisheries of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the year the permit is applied.
DATES
3. Commercial Permits will be issued April 1 — May 30 and valid through March 31 of
the following year. Steamers may be taken in specific areas designated by the Board
of Selectmen until March 31.
4. Commercial Shellfish Permits will be sold at the Department of Natural Resource
Office (1657 Main Street, Brewster) from 8:30am – 4:00pm April 1 – April 8. From
April 9 – May 31 permits will be sold by appointment only.
AREAS
5. The area of Brewster flats north and easterly from the leader of the northernmost Ellis
fish trap known as "the Channel" will be open to commercial harvesting of quahogs.
Persons holding Commercial Shellfish Permits are prohibited from shellfishing in areas
designated for family permits only. The Selectmen may restrict the use of any areas for
the taking of any shellfish as they may deem expedient, either absolutely or generally
or for some particular use, or the taking of certain kinds of shellfish only and allowing
other kinds to be taken on such restricted areas, and such restrictions shall have the
same force and effect as any rule or regulation made herein, and any violation of which
shall be punishable in like manner. No shellfish shall be taken from any area of waters
in the Town of Brewster unless such areas have been declared open for the taking of
each kind of shellfish by the Board of Selectmen, and only to the quantity specified.
Steamers may be harvested only by hand rake. Digging in grass areas, including grass
roots, is prohibited.
METHODS
6. The taking of quahogs from the waters and flats within the Town of Brewster by
implements other than those known as long rake, scratcher, tong, quahog rake or clam hoe is
prohibited. Hydraulic dredging is prohibited. Power dredging with drags with a maximum 20-
inch wide cutting edge is permitted only seaward of the 9960-y-44000 LORAN line. The
presence of quahog dredges overboard at any time shall be evidence of the intent to shellfish
commercially. The fine for dragging in non-approved areas shall be $200.00.
LIMITS
6. The daily commercial limit of quahogs taken in the assigned areas of Cape Cod bay
shall be ten (10) standard bushels (1 bushel = 2150 cubic inches), except seaward of
the 9960-y-44000 LORAN line where the limit shall be 35 bushels per day. The daily
limit of steamers shall be one (1) bushel.
HOURS
7. No commercial permit holder shall take shellfish from the waters and flats within the
Town of Brewster during the hours between one-half hour after sunset and one-half
hour before sunrise.
BOATS
8. Any boat engaged in commercial shellfishing in the Town of Brewster must be
registered or documented in the Town of Brewster.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
9. Permits shall be issued subject to any changes in the se provisions, rules and
regulations and any amendments thereto that the Board may deem necessary and
expedient and so adopted under the provision of Massachusetts General Laws,
Chapter 130, Section 52.
10. Permits are not transferable and no person shall amend, alter, or in any way
modify the information contained on a permit.
11. Permit holders must visibly display shellfish permits and carry identification
upon their persons when shellfishing. Shellfish permits, a valid driver's license or
positive identification must be shown when requested by the Shellfish Constable or
Assistant Constables.
12. Permit holders, upon request, shall permit Shellfish Constables or Assistant
Shellfish Constables to check the size and quantity of shellfish.
13. No person shall take, or have in their possession, seed clams, seed oysters,
seed scallops, seed quahogs, seed mussels, and seed sea clams except that a five (5)
percent by count of seed by accident, not by design shall be allowed.
14. The Board of Selectmen reserve the right to suspend for a period of 30 days the
permit of any person violating the Town regulations on shellfishing. Whoever violates
any rule or regulation made under the authority of Chapter 130 of Massachusetts
General Laws, unless otherwise provided, shall be punished by a fine of not less than
$15.00, but not more than $1,000.00.
15. The annual fee for a permit will be $100.00
RAZOR CLAMS
16. Commercial Razor Clam harvesting will be regulated under the Commercial
Razor Clam Pilot Program Regulations.
Last revised 3/16/20 at Select Board meeting