LEWES Del. — May 21, 2014 — Chris Bason, the executive director of the Center for the Inland Bays, said Wednesday that state officials did a good job covering all the bases with proposed new shellfish aquaculture regulations.
But he said all the many details may discourage growth of a new industry in Rehoboth, Indian River and Little Assawoman Bays.
"Every start up cost is an impediment," Bason said as state officials hosted a public hearing in Lewes on proposed regulations for aquaculture in the Inland Bays. "It's important to give the industry every chance."
State environmental officials said they tried to balance the many interests of groups using the bays, from boaters and anglers to marina and bait and tackle store owners to commercial clammers. And they want to avoid conflicts between various clam and oyster farmers.
State regulators outlined proposed regulations, required under a shellfish aquaculture bill that became law last August, at the public hearing Wednesday. They will take written public comments through 4:30 p.m. June 5.
Their proposal sets up a two-pronged approach to shellfish aquaculture in the Inland Bays.
Read the full story at Delaware Online