Fat Dog Shellfish has applied to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department for a license to cultivate oysters in an upweller-style nursery at Great Bay Marine. The proposed location is a boat slip similar to those available for recreational boats.

The upweller system suspends oyster spat in the water column, rather than seeding them along the bottom, then uses pumps to bring phytoplankton-rich waters past the oysters. These two features allow the oysters to be more quickly brought to a size that can be sold to a grow-out operation. An upweller in New Hampshire waters would help bring oysters to market size in two rather than three years, according to N.H. Fish and Game.

The department will hold a hearing regarding the proposed application on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m., at the Fish and Game Region 3 Office, 225 Main St., Durham. The public is welcome to attend the hearing and comment on the proposed aquaculture plan, or to submit comments online through Feb. 20. A detailed plan is available for public review at www.fishnh.com/marine and at the Region 3 Office.