Shellfish

Waldoboro to prepare aquaculture moratorium ordinance, push for ban (read more)

A view on Aquaculture from a 46 year Clam Digger

 I do not oppose all Aquaculture.  I support land-based Aquaculture and a very limited Sea-based Aquaculture. 

We have to remember, when an inch of any fishing grounds goes to Aquaculture, it is taken from wild harvest. Wild harvest cannot clam, mussel, scallop, or anything else in that area. Recreational boats aren’t allowed near the site and the landscape is grossly changed. The natural beauty is gone.  This is the equivalent of putting apartment buildings in the Grand Canyon.

The next issue is, an Aquaculture site is now introducing a species in a large volume with no idea of the consequences to the native habitat. With no study of that species, at that volume, in that area, the bad possibilities are endless. What they consume, starve out, pollute, or expose to the surroundings is unknown. 

Aquaculture is man “thinking” he knows what’s best. Taking natural fishing grounds that generations of fishermen (and women) have fished all their lives because they are smarter than the ocean. This is reckless, irresponsible, and destructive at best.

 Glen Melvin
Waldoboro Shellfish