Recently, Maryland has invested in a variety of programs to promote shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the state’s 2014 capital budget includes $500,000 for aquaculture loan assistance through the Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), a State-run business assistance program.
The State has issued 52 new shellfish aquaculture leases, with about 85 pending approval. Thirty of the approved leases went to watermen. MARBIDCO has helped 36 watermen with shellfish aquaculture operation development loans.
Maryland shellfish growers produce oysters and clams for human consumption.
source: MD DNR
Showing posts with label aquaculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aquaculture. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2013
Monday, August 15, 2011
Maryland Aquaculture Permits
Maryland is implementing a new streamlined and centralized aquaculture permitting process for growing oysters and other shellfish in Maryland waters. Thanks to a realignment of State requirements approved by the General Assembly earlier this year and a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, qualifying applicants will now be able to submit a joint state-federal application and the Corps is expediting the approval process through issuance of the Regional General Permit.
As of July 1, all aquaculture functions have been consolidated and transferred to DNR, which now coordinates all aquaculture permitting, issues water column leases and staffs the Aquaculture Coordinating Council and Aquaculture Review Board.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District approved the new permit, which goes into effect on August 15. The permit will be available for aquaculture projects up to 50 acres placed directly on the water bottom, 5 acres for aquaculture cages on the bottom and 3 acres for floating aquaculture projects. This covers activities such as shellfish seeding, rearing and cultivation as well as the installation and deployment of aquaculture structures including cages, floats, racks and trays.
The Corps administers Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. These authorities require that a Department of the Army permit is issued for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waterways and wetlands; and for the placement of structures in, over, or under navigable waters.
A copy of the public notice and permit can be found online here: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Wetlands%20Permits/public_notices.htm
source: MD DNR
As of July 1, all aquaculture functions have been consolidated and transferred to DNR, which now coordinates all aquaculture permitting, issues water column leases and staffs the Aquaculture Coordinating Council and Aquaculture Review Board.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District approved the new permit, which goes into effect on August 15. The permit will be available for aquaculture projects up to 50 acres placed directly on the water bottom, 5 acres for aquaculture cages on the bottom and 3 acres for floating aquaculture projects. This covers activities such as shellfish seeding, rearing and cultivation as well as the installation and deployment of aquaculture structures including cages, floats, racks and trays.
The Corps administers Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. These authorities require that a Department of the Army permit is issued for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waterways and wetlands; and for the placement of structures in, over, or under navigable waters.
A copy of the public notice and permit can be found online here: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Wetlands%20Permits/public_notices.htm
source: MD DNR
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Aquaculture Financing Loan Program Re-Opens
The Maryland shellfish aquaculture financing program will be accepting a second round of applications between January 2 and January 31, 2011. The program received 16 applications totaling more than $1.3 million during the first round, which closed on November 30.
There is a total of $2.2 million currently available for the program, which is a cooperative effort among the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the University of the Maryland Sea Grant Extension (UME) and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO).
The new shellfish aquaculture loan program is a subsidized program with principal payments returning to a revolving fund to support additional shellfish aquaculture funding needs in the future. The loan program offers partial loan forgiveness for borrowers meeting certain performance conditions. MARBIDCO is pricing the loans at a fixed annual interest rate not to exceed 4.5 percent. A Shellfish Aquaculture Financing Committee, including representatives from DNR, MDA, UME, a Maryland farm credit association, and MARBIDCO, has been established to evaluate applications and proposed business plans.
To begin the application process, interested parties may contact Karl Roscher of the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Office (MDA) at 410-841-5724. An application and aquaculture business planning template are available at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/oysters/industry/funding.asp.
source: MD DNR press release
There is a total of $2.2 million currently available for the program, which is a cooperative effort among the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), the University of the Maryland Sea Grant Extension (UME) and the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO).
The new shellfish aquaculture loan program is a subsidized program with principal payments returning to a revolving fund to support additional shellfish aquaculture funding needs in the future. The loan program offers partial loan forgiveness for borrowers meeting certain performance conditions. MARBIDCO is pricing the loans at a fixed annual interest rate not to exceed 4.5 percent. A Shellfish Aquaculture Financing Committee, including representatives from DNR, MDA, UME, a Maryland farm credit association, and MARBIDCO, has been established to evaluate applications and proposed business plans.
To begin the application process, interested parties may contact Karl Roscher of the Maryland Aquaculture Coordinating Office (MDA) at 410-841-5724. An application and aquaculture business planning template are available at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/oysters/industry/funding.asp.
source: MD DNR press release
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Maryland Aquaculture Conference
Maryland is hosting an aquaculture conference in Annapolis on November 9-10, 2010. The Maryland Aquaculture Conference will focus on the process for establishing successful shellfish aquaculture businesses that will provide economic growth and employment to rural areas while aiding the environment.
Conference participants will learn how to obtain bottom and water column leases; find and apply for financing; monitor for disease; target markets; and create profitable businesses through proper planning. Growers from other areas will discuss how they got into business, showcasing opportunities they took advantage of and highlighting how they see the future of Maryland’s shellfish industry.
The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Md., (off Riva Road at Forest Drive) on November 9 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and November 10 from 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. The registration fee is $75 for the full conference or $40 per day. For more information and to download a registration form, visit: www.marylandseafood.org or contact Martha Milligan at 410-827-8056. Space is limited, so register early.
source: Maryland Department of Agriculture
Conference participants will learn how to obtain bottom and water column leases; find and apply for financing; monitor for disease; target markets; and create profitable businesses through proper planning. Growers from other areas will discuss how they got into business, showcasing opportunities they took advantage of and highlighting how they see the future of Maryland’s shellfish industry.
The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Md., (off Riva Road at Forest Drive) on November 9 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and November 10 from 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. The registration fee is $75 for the full conference or $40 per day. For more information and to download a registration form, visit: www.marylandseafood.org or contact Martha Milligan at 410-827-8056. Space is limited, so register early.
source: Maryland Department of Agriculture
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