2024 Lease Application Cycle
REQUEST FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS ON PROPOSED SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE LEASE SITES
Public Notice & Summary Maps
Issue Date: May 6, 2024
Expiration Date: May 6, 2024
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Chapter 475, Article II of the Suffolk County Code, the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning has received a total of thirteen (13) applications for shellfish aquaculture lease sites in Peconic and Gardiners Bay solicited under the 2024 Lease Application Cycle. These applications from eligible candidates who are interested in obtaining a lease from Suffolk County for the controlled raising, breeding, growing, and containment of shellfish through on-bottom and/or off-bottom culture techniques for a term of 10 years.
Eight (8) of the applications were submitted by aspiring new shellfish farmers, each interested in obtaining one 10-acre lease. One (1) application is for a private oyster grant owner to receive a lease site overlay on their grant to grow species other than oysters. Two (2) applications are to relocate existing leases. Two (2) applications were submitted by existing shellfish farmers seeking to obtain a second 10-acre lease.
Each applicant was permitted (but not required) to include up to three proposed lease sites in their respective applications, this notice includes a total of 35 proposed sites for leasing. While all proposed sites are located within the adopted Shellfish Cultivation Zone; each applicant may only receive one of their proposed lease sites under 2024 Lease Application.
Comments regarding the proposed lease sites must be prepared in writing and mailed to the contact person listed below. All comments must be post marked by May 6, 2024. Such comments should be targeted to a specific lease site(s) by referencing the applicable Lease Site Map ID #(s), as shown on Attachment A in this Public Notice.
Contact:
Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning
Aquaculture Lease Program
H. Lee Dennison Bldg. – 2nd Floor
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788-0099
ATTN: Mr. Thomas Ralicky
Hard copies of this Public Notice and the lease application summary sheets are available for review at the following locations:
- Suffolk County Dept. of Economic Development & Planning, Division of Planning & Environment
- Office of the Suffolk County Clerk
- NYSDEC, Division of Marine Resources Office
- Town Clerk Offices:
- Babylon
- Brookhaven
- East Hampton
- Huntington
- Islip
- Riverhead
- Shelter Island
- Smithtown
- Southampton
- Southold
- Town Trustee Offices:
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Thomas Ralicky via email at thomas.ralicky@suffolkcountyny.gov or via telephone 631-853-4865.