Delaware shellfish farming to be limited

State environmental officials said Wednesday that Beach Cove in Indian River Bay and several near-shore sites in Little Assawoman Bay will be off-limits to shellfish farmers as they move forward with permitting.

The state set aside several other designated shellfish farming areas in the Inland Bays and is moving forward with plans for a statewide permit that would expedite the process for future shellfish farmers.

“The Inland Bays are some of the most intensively used waterways in the region, and the areas that have been selected represent locations intended to support shellfish aquaculture compatible with boaters and property owners,” said David Small, secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

State environmental officials ran into strong opposition after their fledgling shellfish farming regulations were in place. Property owners at Beach Cove and several other areas complained they were unaware of the commercial shellfish grounds in their backyards.

“We applaud the state for concurring with our support for safe aquaculture in Inland Bay waterways far more suitable than Beach Cove,” said David Green, president of the Save Beach Cove Coalition. "We’re pleased that the state has recognized our evidence conclusively demonstrating that commercial shellfishing is inappropriate in Beach Cove.”

Small said that even with the removal of several potential farming plots, “we believe that enough shellfish aquaculture areas will be authorized …  to give the industry a chance to establish itself.”

Delaware is the last state in the region to develop a shellfish aquaculture program.

Reach Molly Murray at (302) 463-3334 or mmurray@delawareeonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @MollyMurraytnj.