May: Shellfish Department Prepares for Propagation

What’s Going on in the Tisbury Shellfish Department:

Warmer weather and an increase in water temperature sets the stage for the hard work of shellfish propagation.

Over the course of two days, the shellfish department used a pan drag to harvest scallops from the lagoon. The scallops were placed in wire mesh floating cages to protect them from predators.

Shellfish Constable Danielle Ewart emptying the drag

Shellfish Constable Danielle Ewart filling the cages with bay scallops

Net bags filled with blue mesh will be placed on the cages. As the water warms the scallops will spawn naturally and the scallop spat will attach to the mesh inside the protective mesh bag.

Earlier this month, the Tisbury Shellfish Department began scraping and painting plywood quahog rafts. The rafts will be filled with sand and “planted” with seed quahogs provided by the shellfish hatchery. The rafts will be anchored in the lagoon where they will float just below the surface to provide protection for the seed from predators.

Freshly painted quahog rafts drying in the sun 

Harbormaster John Crocker and Harbor Assistant Gabe Canham holding the new sign marking anchoring areas at the opening of Lake Tashmoo