Greenwich Stats:
4,173 acres of hard clam leases
6.3 acres eastern oyster leases
920 acres of recreational shellfishing
They also determined that 9% of Nitrogen is removed from the Greenwich watershed annually by hard clam and oyster aquaculture, or about 31,000 pounds of nitrogen per year!
NOAA says other coastal communities can adapt Greenwich’s innovative methods to estimate the value of shellfish nutrient removal.
The partnership between the Greenwich Shellfish Commission and NOAA offers a transferable replacement cost model because Greenwich is a typical suburban watershed.
More than half of the local Nitrogen input is “nonpoint source,” such as runoff from lawn fertilizer, so a multifaceted nutrient management program is key.
Greenwich also has a thriving shellfish aquaculture industry, which makes it an ideal case study.
The shellfish industry is supported by Greenwich’s active and motivated shellfish commission. Volunteer efforts yield immeasurable value to the community.
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