As the Maine, U.S.A.-based Bremen’s Lobster Pound Co-op adjusts to new ownership, it’s also making room to potentially incorporate aquaculture back into its operations.
Boe Marsh, who deals in lobster, clams and shrimp, has been named the new owner of the co-op in the aftermath of a merger between Community Shellfish and the fishermen’s association. In an interview with Lincoln County News, Marsh discussed his interest in converting two of the co-op’s lobster pounds in Bremen into an oyster and clam aquaculture operation.
The co-op has obtained a one-year limited aquaculture lease from Maine’s Department of Marine Resources allowing for four 40-by-40-foot plots. The cooperative has also applied for a DMR for an experimental three-year lease covering four acres, the newspaper reported.
"These pounds are a big laboratory. I want to spur research and development in aquaculture," Marsh told the newspaper.
According to Marsh, if converted, the lobster pounds could potentially accommodate the growth of 600,000 to 900,000 oysters on top of clam production. The lobster pounds, which are located where Muscongus Bay meets the Medomak River, would be refurbished if the plan goes through, and offer an ideal, nutrient-rich environment for shellfish farming, said Marsh.
Around 65 oyster farms are currently active between York and Washington County in the state of Maine, according to Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center statistics.
