Mar. 24--STONINGTON, Conn.--The Mohegan Tribe bought the Garbo Lobster Co. property on Water Street Wednesday for $1.7 million.
"It's our first step in terms of a diversification venture," said Peter Schultz, the tribe's vice chairman.
The tribe announced late last year that it planned to invest more than $10 million in an aquaculture venture that would include a
shellfish hatchery in Stonington, a processing plant on the tribe's Uncasville reservation, and fish barns in rural areas throughout the
region.
"This is fantastic," said Paul D. Maugle, the tribe's director of aquaculture, on the acquisition of the property.
Last summer, the tribe put a $50,000 deposit on Garbo's waterfront property at 70-72 Water St, which was listed for $1.95 million. In
November, it released details of the aquaculture project, and said it expected to close the deal in December or January.
Garbo is moving his lobster operation to Groton, but will continue to lease the Stonington borough property from the tribe until his new
facility is completed sometime within the next year.
Maugle said the Mohegan's have already started work on their aquaculture business and will be working on the site as soon as next
month.
"We want to go slow and get to know people, but we're very excited," said Maugle.
Initially, he said the tribe would set up oysters on long lines beneath the docks in Stonington and others in the Thames River, and also
raise oysters and clams in land-based "upwellers," or holding tanks at the Stonington site.
Schultz said the Tribal Council has already allocated funds for construction of the upwellers.
Garbo said now that the sale is completed, he would begin construction of his new facility in Groton.
Maugle said the tribe has made presentations on its aquaculture project at public meetings in Stonington, Groton, Niantic, and
Norwich.
"Once people understand the benefits, that we want to make Long Island Sound a healthy and more wholesome place, there is tremendous
response," said Maugle.
The tribe plans to convert the existing lobster pounds at the Garbo site to hatcheries for shellfish, primarily oysters and clams. It
intends to use the docks for its boats, which will tend to leased shellfish beds in Fishers Island Sound.
Later, the tribe also hopes to convince local chicken, dairy and swine farmers to convert their property for use as fish barns, where
tilapia, a firm, white-meat fish can be grown.
The tribe would like to raise the tilapia and process it at a plant to be built on the reservation.
"We're looking forward to getting started," Maugle said, adding the Mohegans would hire a handful of people to start the project.
On Thursday, Stonington Borough Warden Andrew Maynard said he was pleased to hear the sale had been completed.
"We've had nothing but favorable contact with the tribe," he said. "Their willingness to meet with us early on and discuss the project
helped a lot. The only question that will continue to pose some level of difficulty is the truck traffic. We know there is some need for
that, but we hope it is manageable."
The Garbo property includes three buildings and a 120-foot pier on just over a half acre.