Local Aquaculture Lease Program Meeting Planned

New Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski wants to give local residents a chance to weigh in on the issues close to home.

To that end, Krupski has arranged for an informational meeting of the Suffolk County aquaculture lease program for the Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay to be held in Riverhead on June 6.

The Suffolk County aquaculture lease board will hold its second public meeting on April 10, 2013 at 3 p.m. in Hauppauge.

At the meeting, the board will review and consider the 36 sites identified in lease applications under the 2012 lease cycle.

Because both meetings were scheduled to be held in Hauppauge and the leasing programs involves waters off the East End, as well as residents of Riverhead and the North Fork, Krupski arranged for an informational meeting to be held in Riverhead on June 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, located at 423 Griffing Avenue. 

The purpose of the June 6 meeting, Krupski said, is to update interested parties on the how the program has functioned to date as well as future short and long-term plans. 

The Southold Town board discussed a growing aquaculture industry and the county's lease program at Tuesday's work session. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said the county's aquaculture program is up for renewal. Russell has asked Krupski to help facilitate a meeting of representatives to be held in Southold.

To submit written comments prior the April 10 meeting, email susan.filipowich@suffolkcountyny.gov or write Susan Filipowich, Suffolk County Department of Planning, 100 Veteran’s Highway, PO Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788. 

Do you think Suffolk County's aquaculture lease program is critical to the North Fork? Share your thoughts in the comments section.