Stonington -- The Economic Development Commission will sponsor a forum to discuss the use of coastal waters for cultivating seafood such as shellfish on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the La Grua Center in the borough.

Over the past few month, the topic has become a controversial one as a group of Quiambaug Cove residents fought a proposal for commercial shellfish operation in the cove by a part-time Lords Point resident who is currently revising his plan.

Tessa Getchis, an extension agent with Connecticut Sea Grant at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, will lead a discussion involving topics such as the challenges facing aquaculture development along the heavily used coastline and how community concerns can be addressed through the regulatory process. Getchis works with regulatory agencies, community leaders and farmers to develop environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture.

Admission to the event is free. For more information, contact EDC members Ward Smith at (860) 235-9180 or Danielle Chesebrough at Danielle.Chesebrough@gmail.co.

This corrects an earlier version