Response to the Suffolk County Aquaculture 10-Year Advisory Review

The members of this group continue to support local aquaculture yet not at the expense of use of the water. Floating shellfish cages pose a threat to life and property by placing heavy, interconnected obstacles in open water; cages that rest on the bottom pose no such threat. Consider these additional points, as made during the formal SCALP review period:

1.       SAFETY: The area identified for the Oyster Leases is a high traffic area for recreational users. This use takes the form of all types of water craft from Stand Up Paddle boards to larger sail and power boats. These craft all travel at widely different speeds. The floating cages create a form of lanes as they are more like “Jersey Barriers” than single buoys thus forcing the various craft into the same areas. This creates an unsafe situation for the users of this natural resource.

2.       EXCLUSIVITY: The allocation of this area of the bay for 16 ten-acre leases, where floating gear can be used, takes away a natural resource from one group of people and gives it to another group, for their benefit without any discussion with or consideration for the current users. This is not the concept of sharing a resource.

3.       DIMINISHES VALUE: The installation of the surface cages is visually appalling and certainly damages the aesthetics of the bay as well as property values along the bay front. It is kind of like building an electrical substation across from your house.  Not what you thought would happen when you bought your house.

4.       UNFAIR DISTRIBUTION: There are no cages in approximately 95% of the East Hampton Town waters. With all that acreage why are they all clustered in one area of Gardiner's Bay?

Lease Area-County View | Lease Area-Awarded Areas

Please Sign the Petition to keep Gardiner's Bay Safe.

See history of our position on this issue in Letters.

We Support Responsible Aquaculture Development on the East End

As homeowners, business owners and frequent users of the waters of Gardiner's and Peconic Bay, we wish to make our voices heard concerning the use of floating oyster cages for commercial aquaculture development.

We support the shellfish industry for its obvious benefits to the environment and livelihoods to many who work on the water.

We are seeking to ensure that these make use of gear that rests on the bottom rather than on the surface, in order to preserve safe navigation and our scenic vistas for all users of our bays. The Suffolk County program authorizing the development of 10-acre oyster lease sites for aquaculture in Peconic and Gardiner's Bay allowed for placement of cages that rest on the sea floor, therefore any use of floating gear is not authorized and is illegal.