Tag Archives: bayman Sawyer Clark

The fate of Shelter Island commercial fishing: Ideas, views and information shared at forum

The Thursday, Nov. 14 Reporter Community Forum at the Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, had a panel of two baymen, a local chef, and an official with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) taking questions on the topic: “Commercial Fishing on Shelter Island.” Views, suggestions and opinions were aired and personal stories related at the event sponsored by Dime Bank, but perhaps most interesting of all was the idea that hope for a successful future was a strong possibility for baymen and those who work our waters for a living. There was also reiteration of news about reseeding the bays with scallops, introducing new strains that are stronger and more resistant to die-offs. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:50

Peconic Bay Scallop: After disappointing seasons in 2019, ’20, the outlook remains bleak

Last week, Steve Tettelbach, head of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Peconic Bay Scallop Restoration Program, finished up a series of dives at the seven sites from Flanders to Montauk,,, “At six of our seven sites, the average density declined by 64% to 99% between May and late August, and the highest die-off occurred at the three sites with the highest initial densities in spring 2021,” Mr. Tettelbach said. Only the site in Napeague Harbor saw an increase in bay scallop numbers over the course of the summer. Bay scallops in New York waters are supposed to live about 18 months. Why have bay scallops in the Peconic Bay system died months prematurely en masse for three years in a row? >click to read< 16:04

On the water with bayman Sawyer Clark

When Sawyer Clark turned 16, he bought a boat and went into the family business: fishing. In the four years since, he has graduated from high school, given college a try and returned to the profession he was born for, despite having a pretty good idea of how dangerous and unpredictable the life of a bayman is. “I tried to stay out, but I fell in love with it,” he said. The Clark family has been fishing on the East End for so long, Clark’s great-great-grandfather took scallops in Peconic Bay with a sailboat before motors were used. >click to read<09:38