The Marion Resources Commission conducted 10 successful harbor rescues in the month of June alone, according to Harbormaster Adam Murphy.
“Last week we pulled three people out of the water and three people out of the boats,” Murphy said at the June 17 meeting.” He added, “There have been a lot of people who have found themselves stranded out there.”
He emphasized all missions were successful, including three jet ski-goers who sunk.
Murphy said that the Marine Resources staff have also been undergoing more rescue training lately.
The staff conducted a training session with the Buzzards Bay Task Force, which included simulated United States Coast Guard vessels getting people off boats.
Staff also conducted training with the Coast guard as well.
The Marine Resources Commission also talked about parking issues at harbor boat yard, which is adjacent to the Marion Village.
Murphy said that on weekends, 80-percent of the vehicles parked in the boating parking lot do not have boat parking decals. There are 1,200 moorings, creating parking issues for boaters.
He said many people are attending weddings at the nearby music hall or simply using the shops.
Commissioners said they have been to the Select Board in the past about the issue and need a tangible plan in place.
Commissioners said there is an open space area there, but it cannot be used for parking. They mentioned that perhaps the open space in that area could be used for marine parking. Commissioners mentioned that nearby Mattapoisett built a golf course on land marked as open space.
Murphy and commissioners also discussed how many boaters have not been removing the winter boating sticks and there are not enough inspectors to enforce the issues.
Murphy said that he is losing one employee to the police force, which will make enforcement and other issues more difficult. “We need more mooring inspectors outside of the (private) boat house inspectors,” Murphy said.
They also discussed how the harbor has been overfilled with moorings and there are only 25 boat moorings available.
One commissioner proposed working with nearby Tabor Academy toward creating more parking for boaters.
The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resource Commission was not scheduled at meeting adjournment.
Marion Marine Resource Commission
By Jeffrey D. Wagner