An in-water aquaculture business park and incubator assistance program proposed for Mathews County got a thumbs-down during a meeting last week from members of a management team established to help determine its feasibility.

The committee was comprised largely of experienced watermen and already-established aquaculture businessmen, and they appeared unanimous in their opposition.

Jack White, owner of New Point Oyster Company, said that business development should be left to the private sector, which needs to "step up." He said that the oyster industry was experiencing a lot of success without government intervention.

Andrew Maggard, a U.S. Navy retiree and the son of a former Mathews waterman, called the proposed program "a boondoggle" and said he didn’t think it was a good idea.

David Davis, a former school teacher and administrator, said he would like to see the free market take care of oysters. A proposed certification program for oyster aquacultu...