This post originally appeared in The Midcoast Villager. Written by Stephen Betts.
Note: The first part of this article regarding public water access has been removed for clarity.
CUSHING — The Jan. 15 public hearing also gathered comments on a warrant article on an ordinance to regulate industrial-sized aquaculture operations; and amendments to the town's shoreland zoning ordinance.
Cushing voters approved a 180-day moratorium on industrial-scale aquaculture projects by 467 to 193 vote at the Nov. 4 election. The moratorium was to allow the Planning Board to come up with recommended regulations that would then have to go to voters.
The definition for large scale is anything one-half acre or larger.
Dave Taylor, chair of the town's shellfish committee, voiced support saying he did not want the waters off Cushing to be like the Damariscotta River which he said lost 98% of it clams due to aquaculture leases.
Staples agreed, saying the proposed ordinance is trying to be fair to all seafood harvesters.