Marion Selectmen give initial OK on resident's second aquaculture permit request
The Marion Selectmen have once again given Shea Doonan their blessing to move forward with an aquaculture project.
Doonan, whose initial request to put an oyster farm off the coast of Meadow Island was denied, came back before the board with a new proposal for a new site.
The site is a half acre of water diagonally across from the Harbormaster's Office and is near the sixth hole at Marion Country Club, according to Selectman Steve Cushing.
Doonan said he got the idea for the area after speaking with the harbormaster. There's no eel grass in the area he chose, but there are limited shellfish populations, which would be a "hurdle" Shellfish Officer Adam Murphy said.
"[Harbormaster Isaac Perry] and I discussed it, and we're both in agreement it needs to be adjusted," Murphy said about the location, "but as far as eel grass goes it's a good spot."
Next, Doonan has to have a study done by the Department of Marine Fisheries to approve the spot. After that survey, Murphy said he and Perry will have a better idea of how to adjust the location.