The land use of Mattapoisett’s shores from Brandt Island Cove to the Fairhaven line will be discussed Thursday at the Marine Advisory Board public hearing in Town Hall at 6 p.m.

The MAB was charged by the Board of Selectmen to determine what locations are suitable for recreation, mooring and navigation and since June has been holding meetings based on its findings. This is the MAB’s final hearing. If certain lands are not deemed to be recreational the potential for aquaculture can arise.

The Board of Selectmen will then take the MAB’s findings as well as input from the public before making a decision on the land’s use. Marine Advisory Board member Carlos DeSousa said roughly 90% of the previous land the MAB has reviewed is being used for recreational purposes. He expects a draft of the report to be finished by September and expressed the importance of Thursday’s meeting.

“It’s going to be big,” DeSousa said. “Everyone should attend. We’ve been going through all of this land to determine how they should be used and unfortunately it’s very limited as to what it can be used for.” He also added prior meetings drew a strong response from the town.

Earlier this year the Aquaculture AdHoc Study Committee was formed to create rules and regulations for shellfish farms upon discovering the town had none.

After several meetings and debates this spring from the Committee, Board of Selectmen and MAB an online poll was featured on the town website for residents to speak on the proposed rules and regulations. The results of this poll, which ended April 6, have not been released. Selectman Paul Silva said after a public hearing in the Fall that the rules and regulations submitted by the now-disbanded committee will be voted on in September.

Aquaculture around Brandt Island Cove has been a hot topic for some time now.  Resident Jim O’Dowd has been waiting two years for an answer to his request to operate a shellfish farm. This request was a spark for the AdHoc Committee to come up with rules and regulations. O’Dowd, who was a member of the committee, originally planned for a two-acre plot on the cove but was met with constant backlash and delays. He has since decided on a new area and plans to share the location at a later date.

“I have one neighbor and it’s not at Brandt Island Cove,” O’Dowd said of his new location. “What’s the problem?”

He did, however, believe the rules were necessary.

“One of the biggest delays for me was the absence of regulation,” he said. “The Board of Selectmen wanted to do everything right and I agree with them. This has to be done right to protect everyone, not just in the town but the state as well.”

Horace Field III, interim Harbormaster and Aquaculture AdHoc Study Committee Chairman, had reservations about new aquaculture coming into the area.

“I’m against it where it disrupts individuals,” he said. “These are exclusionary areas, and when you grant aquaculture to a person solely concerned on enriching themselves, the land becomes off limits to the townspeople. I’m not for allowing one and, in turn, excluding all.”

Field also mentioned that the use of the land after the MAB’s findings hinges on the decision of the Selectmen. He said the proposed rules and regulations could become town bylaws should the Board accept them. A public hearing will be held in the fall to address the complete findings of the MAB and the Selectmen’s decision.

Another portion of the proposed rules and regulations from the Aquaculture AdHoc Committee included issuing a “one fathom” rule to areas and an increase in acreage fees.

This rule states that, “No part of a licensed area shall be allowed in less than six (6) feet of water at mean low tide, as depicted by the one (1) fathom line as indicated by the current NOAA survey soundings.”

AdHoc Committee Vice-Chairman Lisa Winsor said keeping this rule is important.

“When you look at the use of Mattapoisett’s waters,” she said, “they’re primarily used for recreational fishing or boating or whatever. The one-fathom rule protects the areas.”

Another issue is the proposed $25 acreage fee. Selectman Paul Silva believes this number is not even close to what should be charged.

“These acreage fees haven’t changed since 1973,” Silva said. “That bothers me. I’ve looked at inflation rates, shellfish weights, mooring fees and boat excise tax and the town should be making more.”

Silva’s research concluded the town should be charging, taking into consideration these factors, $200 per acre.

“This is a big increase, I know,” Silva said. “And I’m no expert. This is simply what I came up with.”

Bob Field, who has owned a small 3.5-acre plot within Brandt Island Cove for 20 years, thought the proposed rules were fair.

“I really don’t have a problem with them,” he said. “I think it’s good for the town to have some sort of guidance to go off of.”