Division of Natural Resources

The Division of Natural Resources protects, preserves, promotes and manages the natural resources, waters and wild animal resources of the Town of Yarmouth and insures the public safety for all residents and visitors alike that utilize these resources year round, through education and enforcement of local, state and federal environmental, maritime and domestic animal laws.

• The Natural Resource section manages conservation areas, improves and enhances open space areas through land and wildlife management techniques, mitigates conflicts between resource users and addresses public health and safety threats associated with aggressive, sick and injured wildlife and other natural hazards.
• The Shellfish section strives to monitor and improve water quality, enhance shellfish habitat and manage the shellfishery through propagation and aquaculture techniques to insure clean water and a shellfish resource for recreational and commercial shellfishermen alike.
• The Harbormaster and Waterways section manage the waterways, mooring fields and municipal marinas, maintain the navigable waters through dredging and the deployment of navigational buoys, and promote the responsible and safe use of all waters of the Town of Yarmouth.
• The Animal Control section insures compliance with the license, vaccination and leash laws, promotes the humane treatment of all domestic animals, addresses nuisance and aggressive animal problems to insure their safety and safety of the general public.

The Natural Resource: Environmental Law Enforcement and Management Section manage, protects, improves and promotes all conservation areas and trails as well as improves and enhances open space through land and wildlife management techniques. Public safety and resource preservation is achieved through public education and enforcement of all local, state, and federal environmental laws and responding to the reports of environmental hazards and sick and injured wildlife that may pose a threat to the health and safety of the general public and their pets.

The Shellfish Section strives to manage the shellfishery through propagation and aquaculture techniques. Water quality monitoring and improvement projects, are conducted to address point and non-point sources of pollution to insure a healthy and productive ecosystem.

The Animal Control and Protection Section promotes public safety and the humane treatment of all domestic animals while encouraging responsible pet ownership through public education and enforcement of local and state laws. Emphasis is placed on the compliance to the licensing, vaccination and restraint laws which protect animals as well as the public.