Welcome to our weekly column in which a topic of interest, piece of news, relevant opinion, or general request for feedback is presented. We’ll offer the topic du jour and accompanying question, and you have the opportunity to respond with your thoughts.
Simply fill out the form below. A collection of each week’s responses will appear in the following week’s column. To view past responses click here.
Publisher reserves the right to edit responses for clarity and publish online and/or in our print publications.
Please let us know your thoughts!
This week’s Feedback Friday topic is:
Industrial Salmon Farming on Eastern Shore
For the past couple weeks, news chatter between watermen, anglers, conservationists, environmentalists, scientists, farmers, foodies, and Eastern Shore residents has centered on a Norwegian start-up company, AquaCon’s, proposal to build a 25-acre indoor salmon farm near Federalsburg. The company estimates it would deposit an estimated 2.3 million gallons of filtered wastewater into Marshyhope Creek each day, and will produce 35 million pounds of salmon per year.
For those unaware, Marshyhope Creek is a tidal tributary that feeds into the Nanticoke River and, eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. It’s a sensitive and diverse habitat, rich in wildlife and aquatic species. It’s also home to Maryland’s only native Atlantic Sturgeon population—an endangered species once thought extinct in state waters. In fact, Marshyhope is federal and state designated critical habitat.
Last week, the Maryland Department of the Environment issued a key permit to AquaCon to allow for the wastewater discharge, putting the company one step closer toward finalizing it’s $1B proposal. This, despite a hearing on the project at Federalsburg Town Hall, where officials heard from residents, scientists, and other Marylanders—some of whom drove more than two hours to attend—speaking against the project. According to one attendee, “not one person in the room was in favor of the project.”
But the Governor’s office and the director of the Maryland Department of the Environment have voiced their support for AquaCon. So, what to do?
For starters learn more about the project at several websites: https://aquacon.com/facilities/ to get the company’s perspective. And this opinion article written jointly by several environmental organizational directors: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/08/08/opinion-aquacons-proposed-industrial-salmon-farm-represents-a-major-environmental-risk-for-maryland/
And let us know what you think. Do you approve or disapprove of the proposed AquaCon salmon farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore?
Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. Today’s responses—and all future Feedback Friday responses—will be published in our Monday newsletters after the weekend. AND, several responses from recent topics will appear in our upcoming print magazines!
