I am mystified by the reaction of the Quiambaug Cove residents to the proposed oyster aquaculture activity in the cove. Eastern Connecticut was once a major shellfish producing area because the habitat was ideal for the spawning, survival and growth of oysters. We’ve lost a lot of that opportunity over the years. It’s nice to see someone attempting to recover some local seafood producing potential at no cost to others’ enjoyment of our state’s waters and, at the same time, enhancing environmental quality via the well-known ability of oysters to filter plankton from seawater.

It’s an ideal proposal. No diesel noise or fumes, hand-harvesting tools only, no cages or apparatus above the water’s surface to impede views or interfere with navigation. What could be more benign?

Other users of the cove won’t be threatened by oysters harvested by a person wading in 18-inch deep water and any new proposals for shellfishing activities in the northern part of the cove will have to go through the same regulatory process for review and approval.

The Stonington Shellfish Commission would provide a valuable service to seafood consumers and the environment, at no real harm to the neighbors, by approving the proposal. 

Eric Smith

Groton