Thursday night’s Marine Advisory Board subcommittee hearing on land use from Ram Island to the Fairhaven line was sidetracked as residents spoke out against existing aquaculture farms.

Earlier this summer the MAB was charged by the Board of Selectmen to categorize how the town’s shorelines are used, specifically for recreational, navigational, mooring or other purposes. Hearings have been held throughout the summer for the public to comment on how these areas are used and how they should be used. The large crowd unanimously agreed Thursday the land reviewed was largely recreational and were not in favor of allowing more shellfish farms in the area.

Marine Advisory Board Chairman Allan Gillis mentioned most of the land discussed in the hearings have been urged by residents to be deemed recreational and off limits to aquaculture.

Two aquaculture farms already exist in town: Bob Field’s 3.5-acre plot in Brandt Island Cove and Rod Taylor’s 100-acre plot in Nasketucket Bay. Many at the meeting spoke out against Taylor’s farm.

Resident Jim Craig believed Taylor’s plot was far bigger than shown on the nautical charts.

“It’s nowhere near accurate,” Craig said. “It makes navigation tricky. Make him do what he’s supposed to do. Hold him accountable like the rest of us.”

Resident Brett Fortin agreed.

“The whole problem with Taylor is that he’s been there for 25 years and moves around at will,” he said. “No one is catching up with him. I know nobody wants aquaculture here.”

Though Harbormaster Horace Field III didn’t think Taylor’s plot was larger than shown, he did agree it was poorly marked and not stationed. He also mentioned a few instances in which accidents have occurred in the area.

“[Taylor’s] responsible for marking where those buoys are,” Field said. “It’s in terrible shape. I myself got caught up in the town boat outside of that area. We got into the area and only one buoy had a light on. I had to get help to get cut out.”

Marine Advisory Board chairman Allan Gillis acknowledged Taylor’s name coming up in prior meetings.

“Our goal in these hearings is to identify what problems arise,” he said. “The biggest reason we’re here tonight is because the people went to the Selectmen and said we needed rules and regulations on aquaculture. People wanted to know how these farms got in before, and it’s simply because there wasn’t any regulations existing. These concerns will be included in our plan.”

Taylor was unavailable for comment.

With the hearings concluded, the Marine Advisory Board will now compile the results and submit them to the Board of Selectmen around Labor Day. A public hearing from the Selectmen will be held afterwards.