New Hampshire Marine Aquaculture License Application Submitted by: New England Superior Oyster LLC. Sheyne R. Branconnier NEW ENGLAND SUPERIOR OYSTERS LLC. LLC.
1. New Hampshire Submitted by: New England Superior Oyster LLC. Principals: Sheyne Branconnier Troy Payne Address: 64 Piscataqua Road Dover, NH 03820 Phone: Phone: 1-708-OYSTERS (697-8377) Cell Phone: 1(603) 781-4154 Email: Sheyne@nhgreatbayoysters.com Website: www.nhgreatbayoysters.com Filing Date: www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oysters Page 2 of 10
Monday, November 7, 2016, 2015 2. Species managed or cultivated A. American oyster: Crassostrea Virginica B. Soft shell clams: Mya Arenaria C. Hard shell clams: Mercenaria Mercenaria 3. Description of the Proposed Project A. General methodology New England Superior Oysters LLC. is seeking to license a 1.3 acre, intertidal site in Royals Cove near the Scammell Bridge in Dover, NH. The site s primary use will be for oyster aquaculture which includes the growing and finishing of oysters using Rack and Bag and Cage Culture. However, we may also place a few directly on the substrate. Quahogs and soft-shelled clams will be grown via simple seeding and harvest methods with limited use of aquaculture gear. B. Type of aquaculture Oysters: Primary use of the site will be for the culture and finishing of oysters. Oysters of various ages will be placed in Rack and Bag and Cage Culture. Over the course of the growth of the oyster to marketable size, we would be managing them by sorting by size, checking for fouling. Future business plans may include moving the Oysters from this location to a deep-water location in Little Bay for flushing prior to going to market or for overwintering. New England Superior Oysters may place them directly on the substrate for bottom planting before market distribution. Clams: Seed clams (quahogs and soft shells) will be planted on the bottom for harvest at maturity. Simple, staked netting may be used for predator control. Clams will be harvested using traditional clam rakes and other simple hand tools. C. Dover, NH Grow Out Location www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oys-ters Page 3 of 10
The proposed 1.3-acre site is located Royals Cove. The location is north of the Scammel Bridge (see also figure 1) and adjacent to the shore of 17-acre lot managed by the NH Fish and Game. The entire site perimeter: Northwest Corner: 43 7'50.15"N 70 50'56.06"W East-Northeast Corner: 43 7'50.86"N 70 50'53.60"W Southeast Corner: 43 7'48.23"N 70 50'51.67"W Southwest Corner: 43 7'47.52"N 70 50'53.96"W The entire farm will be used for bottom culture. Figure 1: Location of proposed site Clements Point in Dover, NH D. Site specific information Tidal information: The site ranges from 1 at mean low water (MLW) on the shoreward boundary to 3 MLW at the seaward boundary. There is no approximation of any of the site is exposed at MLW. The site has a uniform, gradually descending slope from north to south. Proximity to natural resources: Two site surveys were conducted during low tide events (5/6/2017 and 5/7/2017). Approximately 10 transects were walked both east to west and north to south along the site during each visit. The bottom was clearly visible during both surveys. The www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oysters Page 4 of 10
Monday, November 7, 2016, 2015 only fauna observed were occasional mud snails and crabs. Occasional borrows were also observed, but the source of the burrows could not be determined. There was no evidence of rooted vegetation, and it is unlikely that submerged aquatic vegetation could survive at the site due to tidal exposure. Characterization of sediment type: The substrate of the proposed site is dominated by a uniform, soft, mud going down to clay within 6. Cobbles and boulders do not exists visibly on the surface. Recreational and or commercial activities: in Royals Cove, there is a Town of Durham, NH mooring field on the opposing side of the channel. However, the proposed site is approximately 400 away from the Durham mooring field. Navigational aspects: The shallow waters of the proposed site limit navigational opportunities during low tides. The nearest navigational channel is approximately 200 feet from the site. This being the nearest navigational feature E. Type, size, and configuration of gear. The proposed site s primary use will be for growing out to mature oysters. New England Superior Oysters LLC. Will utilize the site for grow out in bottom culture cages (figure 3) and rack and bag systems (figure 4). Bottom culture cages measure 3 W x 4 L x 18 H. Bottom culture cages are elevated above the substrate on 6 legs (which are included in the 18 height) and will be attached to a ground line that runs along the substrate. The ground line will be anchored at each end. Rack and bag systems will consist of plastic mesh bags or cylinders attached to PVC or rebar posts. We anticipate that some culture gear could be exposed approximately one hour before and after a mean low tide. Yellow marker buoys will be placed at each corner of the site, and, most likely, at the midpoint of each boundary line. New England Superior Oysters will work with Fish and Game to devise appropriate plans for signage at the site, since the location and shellfish will be accessible on foot at low tide. www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oys-ters Page 5 of 10
Figure 2: Bottom trays for grow out on substrate Figure 3: Elevated bottom culture cage Figure 4: Example of intertidal rack and bag aquaculture www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oysters Page 6 of 10
Monday, November 7, 2016, 2015 F. Source of organisms to be utilized throughout the project: All shellfish seed will be acquired from a certified, disease free hatchery or grower. One or more of the sources listed below will be utilized (However other certified disease free hatcheries or sources may be identified). Island Creek Oyster Co. Contact Skip Bennett 296 Parks Street Duxbury, MA 02332 Muscongus Bay Aquaculture Tonie Simmons P.O. Box 204 Bremen, Maine 02551 Mook Sea Farms, Inc. William Mook 321 State Route 129 Walpole, ME 04573 207-563-1456 Importation permits will be acquired from New Hampshire Fish and Game for all imported seed. However, 1 seed may be procured to enhance stocks at the proposed location. G. Disposition of shellfish at various stages of the project Oysters at this site will be cultured directly on the substrate or in cages and rack and bag systems as described above. Clams will be grown directly on the substrate until harvest for market distribution. H. List of any chemical or other methods of control or treatment to be used during this project. No chemicals will be used at any phase of the project. I.Restricted uses proposed by the project: www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oys-ters Page 7 of 10
New England Superior Oysters requests exclusive rights to shellfish at the proposed Bellamy River site. We would also like to work directly with Fish and Game, other appropriate officials to develop an acceptable approach (signage and other marker buoys) for informing potential visitors of the existence of a private aquaculture operation. Figure 5 Figure 5 shellfish farm buoys J. Permission of owner to exercise littoral rights: NA K. List of agencies to whom complete copies of application will be sent: New Hampshire Fish and Game New Hampshire Fish and Game Marine Fisheries Division Department 225 Maine Street Durham, NH 03824 2 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03301 NH Department of Environmental N H State Port Authority Services 555 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 29 Hazen Drive PO Box 95 03801 Concord, NH 03302-0095 (603) (603) 436-8500 271-3503 United States Army Corps of United States Coast Guard Engineers 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE 313 West Winton Avenue, Hayward, Washington Dc 20593-7000 CA 94544 (510) 887-0152 New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 129 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301-3852 L. List of Abutters STATE OF N H - FISH & GAME Address 11 HAZEN DR CONCORD, NH 03301 WOODBURN FREDERICK C JR &, WOODBURN ROBERTA N Address 189 SPUR RD DOVER, NH 03820 STEPANEK F & RUSHMORE B TRUSTEES, RUSHMORE-STEPANEK 2006 REAL ESTATE TRUST www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oysters Page 8 of 10
Monday, November 7, 2016, 2015 Address 191 SPUR RD DOVER, NH 03820-4686 TURGEON MICHAEL T &, TURGEON KERRI A Address 39 INDIGO HILL RD SOMERSWORTH, NH 03878 LINDSAY GARY J &, LINDSAY PAMELA S Address 197 SPUR RD DOVER, NH 03820 BARDWELL EILEEN C TRUSTEE, BARDWELL EILEEN C REV TRUST Address 854 CALLE MENUDA ENGLEWOOD, FL 34224 BETTENCOURT ARTHUR L, Address 201 SPUR ROAD DOVER, NH 03820 PARKER ERIC G, Address 205 SPUR RD DOVER, NH 03820 CRICKLEWOOD ON THE BELLAMY, C/O EVERGREEN MANAGEMENT INC Address 72 PORTSMOUTH AVE STRATHAM, NH 03862 BELLAMY RIVER VILLAGE LLC, C/O CP MANAGEMENT INC Address 11 COURT ST EXETER, NH 03833 AUDUBON SOCIETY OF NH, Address 84 SILK FARM RD CONCORD, NH 03301 HUGGINS CLEO &, HUGGINS ELISHA R & ANNE W Address 99 BAY VIEW RD DOVER, NH 03820 VALPEY THEODORE S REVOCABLE TRUST, VALPEY THEODORE S JR TRUSTEE Address 39 BAY VIEW ROAD DOVER, NH 03820 www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oys-ters Page 9 of 10
CASIMIRO MICHAEL J &, CASIMIRO REBECCA A Address 187 SPUR RD DOVER, NH 03820 M. Benefits of proposed activities Oysters are an ocean-friendly seafood choice because they are farmed with negligible impact on the environment. Oysters do not require additional feed inputs such as fish meal from wild-capture fisheries. Instead, they filter-feed on tiny particles, plankton, and organic matter found in the water column. Therefore, oysters are self-sustaining and actually improve local water quality. Oysters can be farmed without adding chemicals or antibiotics that can be harmful to the surrounding environment. Farming oysters can also reduce fishing pressure on wild oyster populations that have suffered from overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction. Shellfish and oysters in particular are being considered as a practical alternative to engineered wastewater remediation solutions for nutrient impaired waters throughout New England and the country. Culture of shellfish requires no chemicals, very simple and limited infrastructure, and can make use of waters that have limited suitability for navigation or other marine and coastal uses. A robust shellfish aquaculture industry will have many economic benefits for New Hampshire. Beyond the fees paid for market oysters, this industry will support local marinas, seafood wholesalers, restaurants, manufacturers, and a variety of other services. These market benefits, in conjunction with the water quality remediation impacts, make this an economically and environmentally sustainable industry for New Hampshire. www.nhgreatbayoysters.com 1-708-Oysters Page 10 of 10