Grow with us!

Grow With Us

Although interest in seaweed farming is growing across New York, only a handful of farms are currently permitted to cultivate it, and all of them are tied to existing oyster leases.

This page is here to help prospective growers understand the current permitting landscape, identify opportunities available today, and anticipate potential future developments.

To operate legally, growers need two things:

A permit:

Legal authorization from DEC and other agencies to farm seaweed.

Access:

The right to use underwater lands and the overlying water column, granted through a lease or license.

Both are required, but at the moment, the bigger barrier is access to underwater lands.

Where Seaweed Farming Is Possible Now

Great South Bay & Moriches Bay (South Shore):

Commercial grow-out areas may be available here. Leases and licenses are issued by the Towns of Islip and Brookhaven, which control these underwater lands. Out of roughly 25 oyster farms permitted through these town programs, only 3 oyster farmers currently hold DEC Macroalgae Permits for commercial seaweed cultivation — all linked to existing oyster operations. Eligible growers must apply for a Macroalgae Permit, which requires a full off-bottom culture application reviewed by DEC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the NY Department of State, with the U.S. Coast Guard also involved for navigational safety. This multi-agency process typically takes a year or more to complete, which further limits how quickly new growers can get started.

Other towns (Huntington & Oyster Bay):

These towns issue licenses or grants for shellfish culture on their underwater lands, but they do not operate full leasing programs like Islip and Brookhaven. In some cases, licensed shellfish growers in these towns have experimented with seaweed or added it alongside shellfish as small pilot projects. However, these efforts are limited, not part of a broader leasing system, and not counted by DEC as formal commercial seaweed permits.

What’s in Development

Suffolk County is creating a seaweed aquaculture lease program for the Peconic and Gardiners Bays.

Once this program is implemented, new opportunities for seaweed cultivation may become available.

Note: Suffolk County’s process involves years of spatial planning, mapping, public meetings, and regulatory development. There is no firm timeline, but many hope the framework could be in place by around 2030.

State Waters: Long Island Sound & Block Island Sound

  • No leasing program exists yet.

    • Although state law allows for leasing underwater lands, New York State has never initiated a leasing program for either shellfish or seaweed in state waters.

  • Adding “seaweed” into state law without also funding and building a full leasing program (mapping, staffing, regulations, public input) would not by itself make farming possible.

  • The State is watching Suffolk County’s program before committing resources to design a statewide leasing framework.

Other Local Efforts

  • Town of Hempstead

    (Hempstead Bay, South Shore):

    Currently conducting studies on whether to launch an aquaculture license program for its underwater lands.

  • Private transactions

    Currently conducting studies on whether to launch an aquaculture license program for its underwater lands.

  • Seaweed Gardening (Non-Commercial Permits)

    In addition to commercial seaweed cultivation, DEC issues non-commercial permits for small-scale “seaweed gardening.” These permits are often used by nonprofits, community groups, and municipalities to grow seaweed for water quality improvement, education, and outreach. These gardens can exist outside of leasing programs. Their success and positive community feedback may help encourage more towns to explore their own aquaculture licensing programs.

Special Note: Temporary Marine Area Use Assignments

DEC also administers a Temporary Marine Area Use Assignment program, originally intended as an interim option for the Peconic & Gardiners Bays. However, it was not designed as a long-term substitute for a full leasing program.

For Growers with Existing Shellfish Leases/Grants in the Peconic & Gardiners Bays

  • The NYS Legislature passed a law allowing underwater lands in the Peconic and Gardiners Bays to be accessed for seaweed farming.

  • The next step is for Suffolk County and DEC to develop the regulatory framework and permitting guidelines.

  • There is no completion date yet. Many hope it will be ready by 2030, but this remains uncertain.

Key Takeaways

  • Access is the main barrier.

    Seaweed permits exist, but only for growers who already have leases through Islip and Brookhaven.

  • The current scale is very small.

    Out of ~25 oyster farms in those programs, only 3 also hold seaweed cultivation permits.

  • The process is slow.

    Even eligible growers face a permit review that typically takes more than a year.

  • Huntington & Oyster Bay exist in a gray zone.

    Shellfish license holders in the area have tried adding seaweed, but these are limited, small-scale efforts — not full leasing programs, and not counted as commercial permits by the DEC.

  • More opportunities may open. 

    Suffolk County’s program for the Peconic and Gardiners Bays is in development, and towns like Hempstead are studying new options.

  • No leasing program exists in New York State waters.

    Although state law allows for leasing, the program has never been initiated for either shellfish or seaweed.

  • Scale of restriction: 

    In practical terms, well over 95% of New York’s marine waters remain off-limits to seaweed farming today.

Stay Connected

Lazy Point Farms will continue to share updates as Suffolk County’s program advances and new local options are explored.

For the most accurate, official details, always refer to: Suffolk County Aquaculture Lease Program

And of course, you can always contact us if you’re considering becoming a grower.