Chairman Wise introduced Mr. Gregory Greene from Cashin Associates.  Mr. Greene is the Director of Environmental Programs for the firm, which is under contract with the Suffolk County Department of Planning to develop a shellfish aquaculture leasing program for the Peconic & Gardiner’s Bay areas.  A State law passed in 2004 granted Suffolk County the authority to lease certain state-owned underwater lands in these areas for the purpose of shellfish aquaculture.  The area under consideration runs from the mouth of the Peconic River in Riverhead eastward to a north-south line abutting the east side of Gardiner’s Island.  The firm is in the initial stages of this project and wanted to inform the Council of their work and to solicit it's advice and input as the project develops. 

Mr. Greene described two salient aspects of that project: 

1. Identifying areas in the Peconics suitable for shellfish aquaculture leasing, especially those areas that would avoid conflict with other marine resource users (i.e., wild harvest shellfisheries, recreational fishing, boating, etc.)  Mr. Greene and colleagues are soliciting information from other users groups as to areas in the system that would not conflict with their use. 
 
2. Prepare an environmental assessment of the proposed leasing program, which must meet State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirements.  Mr. Greene stated that the scoping process, which identifies issues or problems that the environmental assessment should address, is nearly completed.  There haves already been three public meetings where there has been much input from the public. 

Councilors Yaxa and Rivera thought it was a good idea that the study would focus on more than one species because in the past if one source dried up, the entire industry fell apart.  This way you are able to spread the risk.

Mr. Greene is very interested in hearing from any fishermen in the Shelter Island/Gardiner’s Island area.  He will welcome all comments.  His contact information is: ggreene@ca-pc.com.

 

Page last modified Tuesday, June 26, 2007 by George E. Carroll