The NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) administers the Shellfish Lease and Aquaculture Program 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 in 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.
Navigation, recreational and commercial fishing, and conflicts with riparian landowners remain the largest challenges associated shellfish leases in North Carolina. The Marine Fisheries Commission recently adopted new rules that can help mitigate some of these user conflicts, but strategies beyond the scope of regulation are often necessary to maintain public license. I will use several case studies discussing contentious shellfish lease applications to highlight the following strategies and their utility.
DMF staff identify and engage with specific (often localized) stakeholder groups to discuss specific concerns with proposed shellfish leases, but also to gather broader feedback that can be used to inform rulemaking and DMF policy related to aquaculture. Some groups feel excluded from the shellfish leasing process, and incorporating their feedback helps DMF improve public license for shellfish aquaculture and allows them to be a part of the process. DMF also uses these meetings as opportunities to educate the public about shellfish aquaculture regulation to address preconceived notions and misconceptions that often conflate concerns.
DMF has developed a set of strategies that can be applied to specific shellfish lease application conflicts. Growers are encouraged to network with their ‘neighbors’ (riparian property owners and adjacent leaseholders) prior to selecting a location for a new lease. This can identify unique local concerns that can be addressed prior to submitting a formal shellfish lease application. Additionally, grower-driven outreach to build community support for proposed leases among stakeholders can play an important role in the public hearing progress.
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.