| Atlantic Seafood Peter Nixon Site Description: The growout location is in Back River in the City of Poquoson on lease #16066. The growout location is adjacent to the seafood processing and distributing plant at Messick Point. The bottom is hard sand and gently slopes from 0 to 6 feet mlw. The location is on the north shore, subject to east, south, and west winds. This site has functioned as a clam depuration location for many years. Deployment Method: This location is currently not active as a clam depuration site. The project oysters will be deployed in the clam depuration cages that were used at this location. The cages are 4' X 4' X 8" with 4 inch legs. Each cage is constructed with angle iron and perforated, galvanized steel and weighs more than 150 pounds. The cages have buoy and a rope bridle that allow mechanical lifting by large. A barge with A-frame and automatic lifting winch raises the cages for handling. At final growout densities, each cage will hold approximately 600 to 800 oysters. Cages are deployed in approximately 4' mlw and are spaced at least 3 feet apart to allow handling access by the barge. The cages are placed in rows and spaced according to the buoy line at the surface. Emergency Management Plan: The combination of the extremely heavy cages and the hard bottom results in a very secure site for storm events. The clam relay cages were never moved from this site for storm events, and were never lost nor disturbed over the many years this site was used. All cages will be maintained and tops secured for storm events, but will not be moved. After a storm event, all cages will be picked up to get them out of the sand. The employees that handle the barge and winch have had many years of experience and will require little additional training. Peter Nixon will be responsible for overseeing the plan. Winter icing has little or no impact on the submerged clam cages, except for the possible cutting of the buoy lines. Clam cages can be relocated with a pole or by wading at low tide if the buoys are cut. Emergency Contact Information: Peter Nixon - 757-625-3474 |
 Click on picture to see larger version. (large image files take more time to load.)
|
