5/22/13
The Eureka City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday, with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Newman, dissenting to adopt a resolution directing the city of Eureka to move forward on a project with the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District that would allow the expansion of shellfish operations in Humboldt Bay.
Following the presentation on a proposed Humboldt Bay mariculture pre-permitting project, Newman said he supports the project and understands that part of the future of Humboldt Bay is the mariculture industry, but believes the council needs more information before a resolution is made.
“I think this is a fantastic project,” Councilwoman Melinda Ciarabellini said. “I’d like to see us partner with you folks and move forward on it.” According to the proposed project, the harbor district would take on the responsibility of getting the necessary permits and permissions needed to farm pre-permitted sites in Humboldt Bay and would then lease areas out to shellfish growers through a bidding process, harbor district Director of Conservation Dan Berman said.
Berman said the harbor district is undertaking this operation because the permit approval process is lengthy and expensive.
Three sites — covering roughly 200 acres — fall within the city’s tidelands, meaning that the city would potentially be the lessor, once those sites were permitted.
The sites are near Indian Island, north of the bay toward Arcata and inside the Samoa Peninsula.
“This is an exciting proposal because all the studies have shown mariculture is a good economic development for our bay,” Councilwoman Linda Atkins said. “I think joining the harbor district is a good thing to go forward with tonight.”
The harbor district is also consulting with the Wiyot Tribe on two sites at Indian Island. “We’re trying to address sort of a hurdle for businesses to expand here,” Berman said. “We know the bay is productive for shellfish farming. We have a number of businesses that are successful at it and interested in expanding.”
The existing local shellfish industry employs 50 to 60 people and earns $7 to $8 million in annual revenue, according to Berman.
Leasing the pre-permitted areas is projected to double shellfish production in the bay, generate over 50 jobs and increase demand for bayside facilities, according to the harbor district.
Ideally, the harbor district hopes to start operations in the summer of 2014, Berman said. The harbor district is pursuing the project now because it recently received a grant from the Headwaters Fund — created by the county to utilize $22 million in state and federal funds given to offset the sale of the Headwaters Forest Reserve.
