The NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NC DMF) administers the S hellfish L ease and Aquaculture P rogram through the Habitat and Enhancement Section for the purposes of managing commercial shellfish aquaculture within the State. North Carolina has allowed for the private, commercial cultivation of shellfish i n public trust waters for over 150 years. Over the past five years, the industry has been growing nearly exponentially in terms of leased acres. Within that general growth pattern, evolving technology has led to the proliferation of water column methods of cultivation (floating cages, bags, longlines, etc.), which are more obstructive to waterways. Shellfish leases are required by law to be compatible with other public trust uses, and as the industry has grown and changed, the benchmark of compatibility has become increasingly contentious. Additionally, in 2019, the State passed the Shellfish Aquaculture Bill, which was designed to further promote the growth of the aquaculture industry.
Navigation, recreational and commercial fishing, and conflicts with riparian landowners remain the largest challenges associated shellfish leases in North Carolina. These challenges are exacerbated by geographic constraints in the southern waters of the state and an increase in the density of shellfish leases around coastal population centers.
The NC Marine Fisheries Commission has adopted several new rules to address some of these user conflicts. A mandatory 250’ buffer between new shellfish leases aims to improve navigability, and ‘cumulative impact’ language permits consideration of existing shellfish leases and the geography of a water body in making a final determination on a lease. The NCDMF has also adopted policies addressing user conflicts , including a mandatory notification of riparian landowners within 250’ of proposed shellfish leases to increase public awareness and feedback in the public comment /public hearing process.
Collaboration with othe r state agencies has been extremely useful in forecasting potential user conflicts and developing innovative solutions. The State Marine Aquaculture Coordinator’s Network (SMACN) , founded in 2020, has served as a platform for state agencies and extension representatives to discuss regulatory frameworks and permitting requirements , logistics surrounding aquaculture enterprise areas, and strategies for addressing issues associated with growing aquaculture industries.
Addressing the rapid growth of the aquaculture industry has required a multifaceted approach that DMF continues to adapt to best facilitate the cohabitation of shellfish growers and public users in our coastal waterways.