Public Hearing – Bay Aquaculture License Program

The Town of Hempstead will hold a Public Meeting this Wednesday to discuss the proposed Bay Aquaculture License Program. If enacted, it would lease parts of our bays to potential for-profit companies for shellfish and seaweed farming.

Potential upsides would be the filtering and cleaning of bay waters by shellfish grown in these lease zones.  Monetizing/leasing our public bays would also provide a new potential revenue stream to the Town to help offset recent increasing labor costs and other expenses.

Potential Downsides: Leasing bay areas could limit public access to certain parts of the water, curtail local boating and fishing activities, and create navigation hazards due to the infrastructure required for aquaculture, such as floating cages and buoys. Additionally, the introduction of potential non-native species and the use of chemicals or antibiotics in farming could pose environmental risks.

The public hearing will be held Wednesday, 11/20 @ 6:30pm at Hempstead Town Hall Pavillion.

The Pavilion at Town Hall

One Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550

  All are welcome to attend