Aquaculture ban proposed for Accomack Co.

A proposal to gradually end commercial fishing, aquaculture, and harvesting horseshoe crabs within the boundaries of the Assateague Island National Seashore has been brought to the Chincoteague Town Council.

Last Thursday, officials from the Assateague Island Seashore introduced a pre-briefing of the park’s “general management plan.” This plan would hopefully be implemented over the span of 25 to 30 years.

Park superintendent Debbie Darden says unless a park legislation specifically allows people to engage in aquaculture and harvesting for horseshoe crabs, people should not be doing them inside of a national park.

Darden says some folks in Virginia are, so the park is proposing to work with the state to slowly end the fishing over time.

“We don’t want anybody who’s currently making their living doing those things to be hurt in anyway, which is why we’re proposing it would happen over a very long period of time.” Says Darden.

A draft of the park’s plans is expected to be out by the second week of October, but they’re also planning to hold open houses regarding this issue in the third week of November.