Stonington selectmen approve two new Fish Pier buying permits amid objections from Harbor Committee and fishermen

The Town of Stonington Selectmen voted to issue two additional buying permits for the Fish Pier despite objections from the Harbor Committee and several fishermen who said the pier is already at capacity.

John Robbins moved to sell two buying permits to local buyers; after extended public comment and debate about congestion, parking and hoist access, the board voted 3-2 to approve the permits. Selectmen who opposed the motion cited Harbor Committee recommendations and concerns about safety and capacity.

Fishermen and users of the pier voiced frustration. "What is the point of having the Harbor Committee anymore if you aren't going to listen to them?" said Dick Larrabee Jr, summarizing the anger in the audience when he urged the board to defer to committee recommendations. Others argued new buyers would make daytime congestion worse and disrupt established operations.

Some board members proposed staying the decision for a month to allow the Harbor Committee to produce a plan to accommodate two additional buyers; that motion failed on a 2-3 vote.

The board framed the action as a narrow permit decision — not a change to the Pier ordinance — and left additional ordinance revisions and longer-term capacity planning to future Harbor Committee work and Selectmen review.

Why it matters: buying permits control who may purchase seafood at the pier. Decisions that increase capacity can change how the pier is used and affect safety, parking and local fishing businesses.

What’s next: the Harbor Committee and Selectmen said they would continue work on ordinance updates and capacity recommendations; some audience members said they would press for the matter to return to the Harbor Committee and for clearer rules before additional permits are issued.