Maryland studying aquaculture development in coastal areas
USA: A Maryland workgroup was established last summer to look at how the state's aquaculture industry can be improved. The workgroup has met several times to identify challenges facing fish and shellfish farmers in the coastal areas, especially issues related to bottom leasing for the harvest of hard clams and oysters.
The executive director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Dave Wilson, told Delmarvanow.com, that the strategy the group is working out is a compromise between aquaculture and conservation interests. The article describe areas of contention to include buffer zones, which conservation groups wanted to be set at 300 feet but were agreed upon at 50 feet. It also includes bottom leasing adjacent to Assateague Island National Park.
Members of the workgroup expect that they will have regulations for bottom leasing ready sometime next month. Then their proposal will be ready in time for the state's next legislative session.
Some of the main charges of the workgroup were to identify areas available for bottom leasing and improve the process by which the public may comment or share concerns regarding lease applicants.
Issues related to Assateague Island pertain to the shoreline and waters off the island, which are federally protected. However the land underneath the water -- in question by shellfish farmers -- is still owned by the state. Despite the interests of watermen and the state, national park officials said the area will remain out of use.
