HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/09/2022
Town of Southold
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of March 9, 2022
Members Present Members Absent Guests
Tom Stevenson – Chairperson Jim Glover John Bredemeyer
Chris Baiz John Sepenoski Matt Ketcham
Doug Cooper Phil Mastroangelo
Anthony Sannino Brain Mealy (TB Member)
Steve Schnee (Online) Elizabeth Peeples (Trustee)
John B. Sepenoski Jr. Karen Rivara
Mark VanBourgondien Eric Sepenoski (Trustee)
Scott Russell (TB Liaison) Katie Sepenoski
Opening:
th
The Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting was called to order on Wednesday March 9 at 7:10 pm
in the Southold Town Hall meeting hall.
Next Meeting(s):
rd
The next regular AAC meeting will be held on Wednesday March 23, 2022, at 7:00 pm in the
Southold Town Hall meeting hall and via Zoom.
Discussion on Kelp Farming:
Round table discussion with invited guests: Trustee members, TB member, and local industry
experts on the topic of aquaculture.
Tom read over the Agricultural Advisory Committees (AAC) previous meeting minutes where
we discussed Kelp farming and its possible benefits.
The town could be out front in this industry and it could benefit the shellfish growers during the
winter months.
Kelp would be considered a rotational crop and the equipment needed some of it is already
there (trawl lines, anchors and floats)
The town would need to be involved to get started and give approval if town waters were used,
other waters would need approval by the governing body.
For leased land from the state/county a new lease overlay would be needed to grow a different
crop and the process could take a few years.
Shallow waters with good water flow would be best and safest during the winter. Not having to
go out into the bay or sound is ideal for any aquacultural crop.
Also, during the winter months, maybe allow the oyster growers to move their equipment
closer to shore, for safety reasons.
Kelp helps improve water quality. It absorbs extra nitrogen, carbon and nutrients.
Karen said you could probably get around 10,000lbs of Kelp off of a coupe hundred feet of line
depending on when it was planted. (Stony Brook is experimenting in their bays and their
results are skewed because of when they planted).
If the kelp is not grown for food consumption but for fertilizer instead, more options for places
to grow can be available. Certified waters to grow a crop for consumption leaves a lot of waters
unusable.
Page 1 | 2
Town of Southold
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes of March 9, 2022
There are different types of Kelp for different growing seasons. The growing season that is
being proposed would be late November into early June.
If town waters would be a possibility for site use, then the trustees would have to agree and
possible changes to chapter 275 would be needed to be approved by the Town Board and
Town Attorneys.
A suggestion to move forward with Kelp would be to form a working group between the
trustees and local shellfish growers to propose possible sites and gear that may be needed.
Elizabeth Peeples said she would be happy to facilitate these meetings.
Also possibly form a co-op for gear for the kelp and possibly form an LLC? Make it more of a
joint venture in the beginning to see if its viable.
Connecticut and a place on the South Fork have made it profitable for themselves already, so
there is a market.
Chapter 236 for shellfisheries may also need language added for Kelp.
Doug Cooper made a Motion that the agricultural advisory committee supports Kelp growing
and shallow water use for oysters, John Sepenoski Jr., Seconded, brief discussion, ALL In
Favor
The committee thanked everyone for coming to discuss the issue and will assist in any way
needed to get this off the ground by hopefully next fall.
Other Topics Discussed:
Brief discussion on the upcoming code committee meeting taking place on 03/22/22 at 2pm
At the meeting Chapter 70 and the farm worker housing definition will be discussed.
Tom recommended that everyone reread Chapter 70 to refresh themselves before the
meeting.
Brief discussion on the possible affordable housing development on the farm belt in
Cutchogue.
.
Adjournment:
MOTION to adjourn at 8:30 pm made by Chris Baiz, seconded by John Sepenoski, Jr., ALL in favor.
Minutes respectfully submitted by: Laura Arena
Page 2 | 2