New Seaweed Cultivation Plan Kicks Off For East End

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A new seaweed cultivation plan for local waterways on the East End is coming soon, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said this week.

On Friday, Bellone today announced that the county would issue a request for proposal for the development of the new seaweed cultivation program in Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay. The program is designed to build upon the county's existing efforts to enhance aquaculture and regional water quality, he said.

"With a rich history in agricultural and aquaculture, the development of a seaweed cultivation program will not only explore innovative approaches to marine agriculture, but will support our local economy, promote environmental sustainability, and create new opportunities for our farmers," said Bellone. "I encourage interested organizations to participate in this exciting venture as we work together to ensure a more sustainable future for Suffolk County."

Seaweed cultivation is a new farming activity that has not previously been conducted on a commercial scale in Peconic or Gardiners Bays, Bellone said.

Under New York State's environmental conservation law, seaweed cultivation is now permitted, provided that state and local requirements are adhered to, he said.

The cultivation plan builds upon the county’s existing seaweed cultivation pilot program, facilitated in partnership with Stony Brook University, which expected to be completed by 2024.

Long Island has a rich heritage in aquaculture farming, and Suffolk County has undertaken a number of actions to protect the vital industry, which helps sustain the county’s economic growth by generating tourism dollars, supporting local restaurants and service industries, and providing fresh produce for residents, Bellone said.

The county's aquaculture lease program, first adopted in 2009 and implemented in 2010, provides secure access to marine space for private and commercial shellfish aquaculture in publicly-owned underwater lands in Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay for the purpose of shellfish cultivation, Bellone explained.

The goal of the program is to address the access needs of existing shellfish aquaculture businesses, while also accommodating growth in the industry, he said.

Under the county's existing aquaculture lease program, 10 leases were executed in Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay, with eight of them granted to new farmers entering the program in 2023.

Additionally, three lease renewals were granted to existing aquaculture farmers, extending their access to lease locations for an additional ten years.

Currently managing 43 leases and lease site overlays covering a total area of 570 acres of underwater land in the Peconic Estuary, Suffolk County continues to promote sustainable aquaculture practices and support local shellfish farmers, Bellone said.

Suffolk County is the highest-ranked county in New York State related to total sales among aquaculture and is ranked fourth in agricultural total sales, he said.

"I pursued the enactment of the legislation that expanded the SCALP program to include the cultivation of kelp and other seaweeds in Gardiners and Peconic Bays, as studies have highlighted their benefits in removing nitrogen from our waters," New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele said. "The cultivation of seaweed in these areas will promote a growing industry that will help restore water quality and fish habitats on the East End while creating jobs for our traditional maritime businesses. The success of this program should lead the way for the passage of my legislation to allow New York to lease its underwater lands for the cultivation of this environmental and economically viable product as well."

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming added: "Not only is kelp beneficial to waterways by reducing nitrogen, it also promises to provide new economic benefits through many commercial applications. As a coastal community, we welcome this new initiative, which will undoubtedly enhance ongoing efforts to restore our waterways while bolstering the local economy."

Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski also reflected: "Over the past 12 years, the Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Program has been able to support shellfish farmers and introduce others to the aquaculture industry. Adding seaweed cultivation into the program will give farmers another option which can not only improve water quality in our bays but also to produce a crop that has plenty of uses including food, animal feed and even as a natural fertilizer."

Dr. Christopher Gobler, endowed chair of coastal ecology and conservation and professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University said seaweed aquaculture holds the potential to have a significant economic and environmental benefit for Suffolk County. "I am hopeful that this effort will blaze a path to realizing the impact of this industry," he said.

Robert Carpenter, director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, said the organization was pleased Suffolk County is developing a seaweed cultivation program for the waters of Peconic and Gardeners Bay.

"The growing of these crops have many environmental benefits, including removing nitrogen and cleaning our waters. Additionally, seaweed cultivation will provide an excellent off season crop for our farmers and fishermen to grow and harvest, providing additional revenues for the industry," he said.

The selected consultant will guide the county in developing a comprehensive program for seaweed cultivation and will be tasked with exploring the implementation of seaweed cultivation, assessing environmental impact and supporting the program's adoption.

The Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning will additionally conduct extensive stakeholder outreach, including public meetings in each of the five East End towns, so the seaweed cultivation program is developed with local concerns in mind, Bellone said.

Beginning next week, interested parties can find more information about the RFP and submission guidelines by clicking here.