Mattapoisett’s Bay scallop season may be bumped up to October 12 to coincide with the town’s Harvest Moon Seafood Festival.

Although the season usually opens on October 15, Natural Resources Officer Kathy Massey scheduled it for November 1 this year.

“There aren’t an abundance of scallops out there now. October is the month that they need to grow. They gain 20 percent of their weight,” said Massey at the Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday.

“Maybe we should set some dates now going forward but allow for those dates to be pushed back pending extraordinary circumstances,” suggested Selectman Tyler Macallister.

Town Administrator Mike Gagne suggested moving the opening day to Friday, October 12 for this year in conjunction with the seafood festival.

“It would be a nice symbolic tie to what we’re celebrating on Sunday,” said Gagne.

Massey said the Department of Marine Fisheries did approve October 15 to open the harbor. She added that the department required the season opening to be posted two weeks before the date, something Selectmen said they’ve never been required to do before.

Selectmen voted to change the date for this year to October 12 for recreational fishing, pending word from the Department of Marine Fisheries.

Going forward, October 15 will be opening day for recreational scallop fishing and commercial fishing for the outer harbor. On November 1, the inner harbor will also be opened for commercial fishing.