New Funding May Support Fishing Pier

Local fishermen rejoice: Falmouth may soon have its own dedicated fishing pier. Such a pier has been a possibility for many years, but has never come to fruition. Now, however, it has become a topic of much interest.

According to Falmouth Harbormaster Gregg Fraser, “We started talking about it probably 5 or 8 years ago, but at the time there was not a lot of interest in it, so we really didn’t do much about it.”

That changed this year, when a fee was attached to getting a saltwater license for the first time—providing a source of money for the potential project.

“When this new funding source became available, and the state moved forward with a new fishing pier in Oak Bluffs, it regenerated more interest, so that’s when we approached the Beach Superintendent and the dock association," Fraser said. "They decided that since there was now some funding attached to it, it would be a good idea to try it again.”

Despite the displeasure among fishermen over the new price tag on being able to fish in saltwater areas, Fraser insists that they will benefit from their payments because a portion of it goes into a new public access fund.

“A portion of each license has to go into a dedicated fund to provide public access for fishermen, and that’s all it can be used for. So, the funding for the beginning engineering all the way to the final construction would be funded by the state through that program,” Fraser said.

Still, that does not mean that a fishing pier in Falmouth is a go-ahead—there have been plenty of speed bumps along the way, according to Fraser.

“We started the process of public outreach and went to the dock association and in front of the Board of Selectmen [in March], and there were some mixed feelings,” Fraser said.

The controversy is due in large part to the proposed location of the pier. The first choice is Old Stone Dock off of Surf Drive, but Fraser was met with less than positive reactions to that idea.

“The primary objection for the Old Stone Dock is that it is a historical structure and many didn’t want it altered. Many people also didn’t believe that it would be a particularly good fishing spot,” he said.

Surf Drive is not the only location under consideration. Fraser said that additional sites are being investigated, including the east jetty of Falmouth's inner harbor, which is currently used as a fishing spot, as well as Trunk River and the area of Bristol Beach. 

The east jetty of Falmouth's inner harbor seems to be the most likely candidate, Fraser said.

“It would basically be a platform by which the fishermen could stand on instead of standing on the rocks which they do now,” Fraser said. But that location also has its problems, he added.

“Over there [in the inner harbor] we are concerned to make sure no boats attempt to tie up to it, because it is absolutely not a docking area,” Fraser said.

Currently, the proposed fishing pier is at a standstill as Fraser waits for a response from town officials.

“We’re waiting to get some direction as to what the town wants to do. Do we want to continue to push for Surf Drive, or would it make more sense to look at some of the alternative sites?”