To All Tuna Buyers,and Tuna Fishermen,
Please note that the Town of Harwich has permanently closed the fuel dock on the east side of Saquatucket Harbor. Gasoline and diesel fuel are available next door at Harwich Port Boat Yard at Wychmere Harbor. Please contact them at 508-432-1322 about after hour fueling.
All tuna fishermen and buyers are reminded that it is against all harbor regulations to dispose any fishparts or awful within the harbor. There is nothing more disgusting than a day-old tuna head floating in the harbor and nothing turns a pleasant family oriented marina into a foul odored cesspool than tuna heads and blood. Please dispose these far at sea. Report violators to the Harbormaster.
In an effort to eliminate confusion caused by over
crowding the Harwich Board of Selectmen have voted to accept the Waterways
Commissions recommendation for a updated offloading policy concerning sportfishing vessels. These recommendations
were acted upon, voted and adopted as new regulations and fees.
List of currently active Tuna Offloading Permits issued in 2007
List of currently active Tuna Offloading Permits issued in 2005 (updated regularly so refresh page)
List of currently active Tuna Offloading Permits issued in 2004
List of Harwich Tuna Permits Issued last year 2003 (expired) at Saquatucket Harbor
List of Harwich Tuna Permits Issued for 2002 (expired) at Saquatucket Harbor
Inspite of a slow down in tuna harvest, the Town of Harwich continues to charge for offloading privileges. The Tuna Offloading & Harbor Use regulations are as follows:
- The Town shall assess a $375 per vessel offloading fee for the period June 1 - November 31 annually to all tunafishing vessels landing or tagging tuna at Saquatucket Harbor before any fish may be landed from any displacement hull or brought onto shore by a boat ramped vessel. A sticker shall be issued and must be permanently mounted on the vessel where it can be seen by the buyer and officials at the bulkhead when landing the fish. The $375 'T-Permit' shall also apply to vessels landing tuna using the boat ramp. New NMFS regulations require buyers tag all fish before clearing the bulkhead or boat ramp. All commercial vessels with Harwich A, C or E Offload permits only shall offload tuna caught at Wychmere Town Pier. A limit of 100 "T" permits shall be sold.
- When required, an area may be set aside to provide space for tuna to be inspected, and negotiated by buyers. This area will be well away from the fuel dock and offloading area.
- The Harbormaster or his Wharfingers will direct operations and enforce time limits during this period. The Assistant Harbormaster, Wharfingfer(s) will have all the authority pursuant to Chapter 90B, 130, 88 and any other laws of the Commonwealth or by-laws/regulations of the Town. Vessel owners will comply with the directives of the Harbormasters Office which will use police backup as required.
- Vessels entering the port with fish onboard may be assigned a number by Wharfinger in charge. The boat will then standby and agree upon the buyer. Upon being called, the boat will then go to the offloading area at the bulkhead.
- Tuna buyers will still pay a $500 offloading permit fee ($150 for each additional truck). Buyers may only take fish from vessels displaying the appropriate sticker. An updated certified list containing the vessel names and owners (captains) will be given and faxed to each eligible buyer. Buyers taking fish off of unauthorized vessels will lose their offloading privileges for the season.
- All vessels will stay clear of the fuel dock except for the specific purpose of taking on fuel. After fueling is completed and the attendant is paid, the vessel must immediately vacate the fuel dock.
- No vessels shall raft to one another or block slips within the marina.
- No anchoring is allowed within the turning basin. The Outer Harbor is a harbor of refuge and anchoring is permitted for up to 24 hours depending upon space availability there, and notification of the Harbormaster who may direct this anchoring.
- An area within the east parking lot may be "coned" to provide additional space for buyer trucks waiting to use the staging area.When there are more than two buyers attending, the buyers not offloading a vessel shall move his/her truck back to this area.
- All tuna offloading shall be restricted to authorized vessels at the bulkhead at Saquatucket Harbor with the following exceptions: Harwich Home port vessels with Commercial A, E or C permits may land tuna to authorized buyers at Wychmere Harbor Town Pier; Harwich Commercial B permits will become valid November 1st or when the bluefin season officially closes in October.
- Saquatucket Municipal Marina is public property and inspection of any fish of any vessel or person operating within its boundaries shall be open to Federal, State EPO's, Natural Resources Officers as well as the Harbormaster, Assistant Harbormasters, and Police Department.
- No fish parts; tuna heads; racks, bait etc. shall be dumped in the Harbor. This shall be considered a gross violation of local regulation.
- All Town Harbor Dockage Regulations and Rules shall be in effect. Harwich By-Laws prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages anywhere on Town property.
- Offloading permits may be revoked for any violation by the Harbormaster Office for any violation of these regulations and may (or may not) be reinstated at the next meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
- The Harbormaster is authorized to accept cash or a personal check as payment for permit.