Posted on December 11, 2018
Federal money is on the way to clear the Hampton-Seabrook Harbor of sand so boats can get in and out, but the work won’t start for several months.
Officials say the project is a matter of safety and economic vitality and that the project can’t happen soon enough.
A process called shoaling, where sand builds up over time and makes a waterway more shallow and impassable during certain tides, is making it more difficult for fishermen to make a living.
“These guys work hard for their money. They only can go out so many days a year. They’re limited as to what they can catch. They’re limited to time at sea. They can’t keep doing this,” Seabrook harbormaster Mike Pike said.
U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan announced a $4.5 million dredging project that’s designed to open up the channel and make the strip of water passable again.
The project will be done by the Army Corps of Engineers and will move 150,000 cubic yards of sand.
It will take between three and four months, and because of a variety of rules and restrictions, it can’t start until October, meaning it won’t be done for another year.
“We have over 35 employees that we employe through the summer, and if we don’t have them busy, the boats don’t go. They sit and they don’t get paid, so it’s tough on everybody,” said Tracey Godfroy, of Eastman Fishing.
Lobsterman Joe Tirone ran aground this week and bent a propeller that cost him $2,600.
“If you got to wait around for three to four hours to come out, that’s three or four hours later you’re going to get in. It’s a struggle,” he said.
Shaheen and Hassan said they will see what they can do to move the project along.
Source: WMUR
