Taunton Bay Oyster Co. hopes to double production
The Taunton Bay Oyster Co. has filed an application with the state for a 10-year aquaculture lease to grow up to 4 million oysters on three sites totaling 23.7 acres in Northern Bay in Penobscot.
The Ellsworth American reported that the company already raises about the same number of oysters on five lease sites spread over about 28 acres in Taunton Bay in Franklin, Hancock and Sullivan, less than 30 miles northeast of Northern Bay.
At an informal meeting in March hosted by DMR officials and company owner Michael Briggs, members of the public raised concerns about the plan, including the potential for increased traffic at the Penobscot town landing and negative impacts on seabirds and the river’s ecosystem, the paper reported.
Last week, the DMR notified shorefront property owners located within 1,000 feet of the proposed lease sites about the plan. The department must still do a site visit and report on environmental issues and other uses of the area, including fisheries and recreation. After the site visit, the department will hold a public hearing on the application.
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