Scoping Session Sets Stage For Taunton Bay Oyster Co. Farm In Maine

Michael Briggs, owner of Taunton Bay Oyster Co., plans to submit a standard aquaculture lease application to the Maine Department of Marine Resources to grow 3.6 million oysters on up to 24 acres in Northern Bay of the Bagaduce River.

A scoping session on the proposed application drew about 35 people to the Penobscot Community School on March 11. The sessions are an opportunity for a potential applicant to get public input, and knowledge of the proposed lease area, before submitting an application. It is required by the DMR prior to submitting an application.

Briggs’ proposal is for sites on the Wardwell Point Road and Bridges Point sides of Northern Bay that will use floating oyster bags for juvenile oysters on about six of those acres, with the older shellfish to grow on the river bottom without the use of gear. Divers will harvest the adult oysters, with boats on site three to five hours a day.

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