By Beth David, Editor
Round Cove in Fairhaven, which is the cove near Bella Vista Island, has been closed due to low water-quality tests this month. The state Division of Marine Fisheries regularly tests the water in area coves to make sure they are safe for harvesting fish and shellfish. DMF closed the cove on 2/26, from Cherrystone Road north to Bella Vista Island.
Fairhaven Harbormaster Timothy Cox said the cove now has to test clean for a whole year before it can be opened. He also said, however, that he plans to transplant contaminated quahogs in May anyway, so it would have been closed then anyway.
The bigger problem, he said, is why the cove is not testing well. He said he believes the reason is that the owner of Bella Vista Island, Anwar Faisal, has not maintained the depth under his private causeway by dredging as had been done with the previous owner.
Mr. Cox said he is working with hte Mass. Department of Environmental Protection to find out what recourse the town has to force the owner to fix the problem.
Mr. Faisal has made no secret of his dislike of people digging for quahogs along the island, and has often threatened people to leave the water near his island. The practice, however, is protected by state law. A homeowner cannot remove someone who is fishing, fowling or navigating, even from a private beach if that person is in the water.
“It is the horrible point that we have to deal with it again,” said Mr. Cox. “He hasn’t addressed anything. The bridge is more filled in than ever.”
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