I attended the meeting last night in Chatham at the High School. All in all it was a very good meeting as for as getting a message to the folks from the USFWS that a number of activities need to stay in place on the refuge.
1. Most importantly that the historic shellfishing industry, comprised of generations of Chatham residents, be allowed to continue there despite the wilderness designation. That is good for the town economically and is one of the last vestiges of commercial fishing left on the Cape. If the flats of Monomoy were to be taken away from them it would devistate the families that count on it for thier primary source of year round income and those that supplement the already low wages that the cape is known for with commercial shellfishing. A lot of folks are just "making" it on the Cape with this supplemental income. If it went they would be forced to leave the place they and thier ancestors have called home for generations. The Cape is not just a playground for the well to do, vacationers and well off retirees. There is a working class that must be supported here before and a traditional way of life that once made the cape so charming and attractive disappears altogether here.
2. Access to Sportfishermen must be maintained and in some cases increased. Morris Island access must be kept available to those who wish to fish at night. The southern half of South Monomoy should be made available to shore fisherman and those who want to surfcast at night there. The question of authority of the island and south beach msut be discussed before the two join which they surely will by all accounts.
3. The islands ecosystem and wildlife must come first but that the "Big 6" uses mandated by congress in 1997 must be maintained which include hunting and fishing within in compatible limits to the wildlife there.
The USFWS Monomoy personnel reminded everyone that stopping shellfishing on the flats and sportfishing are not on thier radar screens. Quite the contrary. They freely admit though the wilderness designation is quite clear about no commercial use within the boundary lines of the refuge, they have and will continue to ignore the ruling. They understand the consequences to the town's ecomnomy and will do all they can to protect that as well as the refuges wild inhabitants.
Finally someone was able to address the seal issue and they ( the USFWS) have no jurisdiction over seals. All issues with seals should be directed to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Some guardedly conceded there is a concern about them.
It was a well thought out and run meeting. At one point we all divided into groups and went to seperate classrooms with a facilitator and rep form the USFWS to form a list of question to be out forth before the entire assembly before the meeting adjourned. I believe the USFWS people want to have the refuge remain as it is and let the public have as much access to the refuge as can be possibly allowed under law and within the context of thier mission statement and I find that a big relief.
I will continue to monitor the progress of the CCP and report progress and developements for this very special place.
TTFN, Flap
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