Coastal Commission expresses support of shellfish cultivation farm

[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correction of a spelling error. The print version of this report erroneously identified Santa Barbara Mariculture Co. as “Santa Barbara Maritime Co.” We apologize for the error.] SANTA CRUZ — The California Coastal Commission’s support of an existing shellfish cultivation facility just off the coast of Santa Barbara was attached with a plea to support domestic maritime farming efforts. Commissioners unanimously approved Santa Barbara Mariculture Company’s after-the-fact request to authorize a 26-acre shellfish cultivation venue already in operation, July 13. “The existing and proposed facility would be used to plant, grow, and harvest Mediterranean mussels and Pacific oysters using of a system of 700-foot long submerged ‘longlines’ maintained in the water column at a depth of approximately 30-feet through a network of surface buoys and seafloor anchors,” Coastal Commission staff stated in a report to commissioners. “[Santa Barbara Mariculture Co.] anticipates a total annual harvest of 400,000-pounds of Mediterranean mussels and 250,000 oysters from the facility.” Santa Barbara Mariculture Co. began culturing shellfish in 2005 about three-quarters of a mile off the coast of Santa Barbara and is currently seeking to triple the size of its operations, according to Coastal Commission staff. The maritime...