Harwich's Natural Resources Director Resigns

 HARWICH – The herring are running, but there will be no one to keep a close eye on them. Natural Resources Director Don Yannuzzi is resigning effective Friday, April 18. 

“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” Yannuzzi said.

 “This decision was not made lightly, as it has been a privilege to serve the town of Harwich in these capacities,” he wrote in his letter of resignation. “However, due to housing considerations, I am no longer able to feasibly manage the commute and travel requirements associated with these roles.” 

 Yannuzzi said he cannot afford to live on the Cape. For the past half of a year he has been living in Middleborough, and the commute has become too much.

 “The harbor department has been the reason I’ve stuck through some of the rollercoasters,” he said.

 Yannuzzi served as the director of natural resources, assistant harbormaster, herring warden and shellfish constable. He worked in the town’s harbor department before he was hired as director of natural resources in September 2023, replacing longtime director Heinz Proft when he retired.

His departure will come about three months after harbormaster John Rendon retired after serving for 13 years. New harbormaster John Harker took over the position at the beginning of this month after a 22-year career in the Coast Guard.

Oversight of the town’s herring fishery is a major component of Yannuzzi’s position. Harwich has a long history of herring providing an economic boost to the town. From 1870 to 1900 the herring run generated among the highest annual revenue of any town in the state.  

A harvesting moratorium was put in place in 2005 based on low fish counts. Numbers have improved in recent years, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee has approved a plan created by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the town’s natural resources department to lift the ban.

Last year, Brad Chase, the diadromous fisheries leader with DMF and a Harwich resident, pushed for the opening of the run, but the select board cited an absence of staff and volunteers to re-open the fishery. Chase said at that time that he anticipated the ban would be lifted this year. That has not been the case.

“As of now, there are no decisions I know of,” Yannuzzi said of lifting the ban this year.

Yannuzzi said he has had three residents interested in volunteering at the herring run reach out to him in the past year, but once they learned of the commitment required, two of them withdrew. He said he has relied on Harwich Conservation Trust staff, whom he called “the best group one could ask for.” 

But he said there aren’t enough volunteers to oversee the run. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride trying to get department staffing where it needs to be, he said.

The town is now advertising for a new director of natural resources with an annual pay range between $89,816 and $112,035.

Among tasks listed for the director are serving as shellfish constable, herring warden and natural resources officer, and being responsible for enforcing statutes, polices and regulations related to facilities and natural resources and the harbor management plan.

Yannuzzi indicated he was willing to help the department “to ensure a seamless transition,” and he remains open to discussing potential remote opportunities to support continuity in departmental operations. He said he has not had a response to his offer.

When asked if he has another job waiting, he declined to comment, though he added that his ultimate goal is to become a Massachusetts Environmental Police officer.