A wise move on aquaculture proposals
At its meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 25, the Shellfish Advisory Commission took a dual approach to bivalves.
The commission voted to approve both private leasing of public clam beds for shellfish farming — aquaculture — and it also approved public management of farmed beds.
In taking this dual approach, the commission compromised between those who wish to see aquaculture proceed via private leases and those who believe public management is the best way to preserve public beds and expand the shellfish industry in Ipswich.
What’s not at issue is whether Ipswich should proceed with shellfish aquaculture.
The commission and most clammers want to see the resource expanded and managed for maximum production and maximum resource protection to ensure beds remain productive for many years.
The commission still must present a plan to the Board of Selectmen, who will then convene a public hearing on the issue and vote on any aquaculture regulations.
In the meantime, the commission has kept its options open as it gathers more information and enhances and expands mapping of areas that might be suitable for aquaculture.
Thus far in the debate, we have seen nothing that shows private leases to be superior to public management of aquaculture beds.
The commercial clamming community has proven itself active and concerned around this issue and deserves an opportunity to develop aquaculture cooperatively before losing opportunity to privately leased beds.
Perhaps by keeping both the public and private options viable for the time being, the commission will develop new information that swings the debate between public management and private leases one way or the other.
At least the Ipswich clamming community will have the opportunity to see what new information — if any — additional mapping and discussion around aquaculture regulations might produce.
And that’s a wise move on the commission’s part.
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