Provincetown Harbormaster Petitioning State for Squid Fishing Regulations

KA_Macmillan Pier_Snow Flurries_Ptown_Provincetown_holiday commercial street_winter_010416242PROVINCETOWN – The harbormaster in Provincetown is looking for regulations when it comes to squid fishing from MacMillan Pier.

Rex McKinsey recently sent a letter to the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries requesting squid be added to the Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing regulations.

McKinsey said there would not be a minimum size limit but the town is asking for a daily catch limit of about two and a half gallons.

“Although the key to this is not exactly how much it is, but that there is some way of being able to distinguish between recreational and commercial fisheries,” he said.

McKinsey said the pier has a tradition of people being able to use it to catch fish or squid and enjoy being outdoors with their families.

“But when you add the commercial aspect to it things kind of get out of hand here,” he said. “If we can separate the recreational from the commercial fisheries for squid then I think we can have better control over it.”

For this to happen the state would have to modify its recreational fishing regulations.

“There’s already a saltwater fishing permit. It’s relatively inexpensive. It’s available online,” McKinsey said. “So this would be included as part of that permit.”

McKinsey said the key for Provincetown is to have a daily limit for recreational take and anyone taking more would need to have a commercial fishing license.

“That allows the state to be able to track and ensure that the health and safety of the people in the Commonwealth buying squid is taken care of,” he said.

McKinsey said the town is also working on repairs to the pier.

“We want to move away from the untreated, oak fender piles and get more into a composite material which is going to have a great deal longer lifespan,” He said. “It may have a bit more of an upfront cost but the other costs associated with it will drop over time.”

McKinsey added that Provincetown did not suffer any significant damage from the first winter storm of the year.

“Provincetown only got a few inches,” he said. “We had the wind like we normally have during the winter but we didn’t get a foot of snow dumped on us so I think we are in better shape than some other people on the Cape.”

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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Comments

  1. I think it is not good idea

    1). What does squid eat ?
    Small lobsters, small shrimp, small fishes …. If state limit to catch squids. Then squids population grow up. Think. Further 10 years from now !!! Do we need more squids or others ?
    2). Cape code want more people to visit . By this way, make less people come.

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