State hearing to consider aquaculture lease plan

HARRINGTON — The Department of Marine Resources will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Harrington Elementary School to consider an application by Atlantic Salmon (Maine) Inc. of Fairfield for a 20-acre aquaculture lease at Dyer Island to raise salmon.

The public adjudicatory hearing will be held by the state’s aquaculture administrator, Kenneth Honey of West Boothbay Harbor. All written comments concerning ASMI’s application must be received by Honey no later than Dec. 6.

Frank Gjerset of Fairfield, president of ASMI, applied for the 10-year lease on Sept. 13. The company, which was incorporated in Maine on Feb. 12, 1987, holds a 25-acre aquaculture lease off Cross Island in Cutler and a 40-acre lease site off Starboard Island in Machiasport. Gjerset also has applied for a 15-acre lease site at Brothers Island off Jonesport, a 20-acre lease at Libby Island off Machiasport, and a 10-acre lease at Flint Island off Harrington.

The application for an ocean bottom lease off the southeast side of Dyer Island states that the total estimated cost of the project is $6 million, including $2 million for ocean farm equipment and $4 million for working capital. The funds will be secured from stockholders or existing credit sources.

ASMI has already invested $6 million in its hatchery and farm operations and another $6 million in working capital to grow fish.