August 22, 2011

 

Aquaculture permit takes effect in US Maryland

 

 

About six months after its proposal, a streamlined permit for certain aquaculture activities in US' Maryland waters took effect on Monday (Aug 22).

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, approved the permit that covers aquaculture projects up to 50 acres directly on the water bottom, five acres for cages on the bottom and three acres for floating projects. That means the regional permit covers activities such as shellfish seeding, rearing and cultivation, along with the installation and use of cages, floats, racks and trays.

 

That regional permit replaces individual permits that could take up to a year for approval.

 

Prior to July 1, Maryland's Department of Natural Resources permitted bottom leases, Maryland Department of Environment permitted off-bottom leases, and all leases required a federal permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

 

The Army Corps proposed a general permit in February. And last month, Maryland officials streamlined its permitting by transferring all leases to the DNR.

 

But movement on a streamlined federal permit lagged, which prompted action from US Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, both D-Md.

 

The senators wrote to the Corps in March and asked for a finalised permit by May 1.

 

When that didn't happen, they wrote another letter in June to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Jane Lubchenco. NOAA provides environmental assessments to the Corps, which had slowed the process.

 

On Monday, both senators applauded the regional permit approval.

 

"I am relieved the aquaculture permit has finally been approved," said Mikulski, who heads the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NOAA. "A lack of urgency in the permit process left the lives and livelihoods of Maryland's watermen on hold over the past several months. This permit means jobs for Maryland's watermen."

 

Cardin, chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, also applauded the move.

 

"Oyster aquaculture will provide a new generation of watermen a valuable fishery while also allowing wild oysters to return to their central role in the Chesapeake ecosystem," he said.

 

The senators also want the Army Corps to develop a one-stop system so oyster farmers could get all necessary permits through the state, including the Corps permit.

 

Governor Martin O'Malley, whose 2010 Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan opened 95,000 acres of natural oyster bars to aquaculture, said the permit makes it easier to do business.

 

DNR has received 38 applications for almost 1,600 acres since September. Twenty-four of those applicants are commercial watermen.