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t <br /> Within the grant area, Mr. Cook is proposing to construct and operate a <br /> commercial aquaculture facility to grow shellfish. The facility will utilize <br /> approximately 4,500 structured polyethylene shellfish grow-out bags (also <br /> referred to as flexible cages), underlaid with PVC pipe feet, that will be <br /> anchored to the ocean bottom using helical screw anchors in rows of 40 parallel <br /> primary lines 345' long each holding 114 shellfish bags/cages. The shellfish <br /> bags/cages are to be 3" high x 18" wide by 36" long with their tops extending <br /> up to 6" above the sea bottom. The rows will be separated by 2 to 3 feet and <br /> the facility will, therefore, occupy the entire 1.9 acre grant area. <br /> Mr. Cools will "plant" shellfish "seeds" in the flexible cages and allow <br /> them to grow. When the shellfish reach maturity, he will harvest them and sell <br /> them. It takes approximately 2 to 4 years for a seed oyster to grow to market <br /> size. During this time, a significant amount of care and maintenance of the <br /> grant is required. The oysters must be continually rotated and the bags/cages <br /> must be continually cleaned of barnacles and algae. These activities will be <br /> undertaken on a year-round basis during the low tide cycle because the <br /> bags/cages are more accessible when the water is low. The work will be <br /> performed from boats and on foot by men wearing waders. Mr. Cook has stated <br /> that he will be working at the grant 3 to 5 days per week with 1 to 2 men. <br /> The facility will be accessed by boat. Consequently, Mr. Cook will, <br /> presumably, be using the public landings at Ockway Bay and/or at Mashpee <br /> Neck Road for all purposes required to operate his facility including, but not <br /> limited, launching and recovering his boats; loading and unloading equipment; <br /> and loading and unloading and his shellfish seed and mature shellfish. <br /> Mr. Cook has obtained an aquaculture license from the Board of <br /> Selectmen, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 130, § 57, which authorizes Mr. Cook to <br /> utilize the subject 1.9 acre area for aquaculture purposes for a ten year period. <br /> Mr. Cook has also obtained an Order of Conditions from the Conservation <br /> Commission which authorizes the proposed facility under the Massachusetts <br /> Wetlands Protection Act and the Mashpee Wetlands Protection Bylaw. These <br /> licenses and permits are presently subject to appeals. <br /> 3 <br />