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By 06/09/2021
The Marin Agricultural Land Trust will purchase a conservation easement from Hog Island Oyster Company, the first time the nonprofit has bought development rights from an oyster farm. The easement covers the 250-acre Leali Ranch, a property across the highway from Hog Island’s main buildings that the company purchased in 2017. The pandemic dealt a blow to Hog Island’s restaurants, pushing the company the second largest aquaculture company in California to put the ranch on the market. “As farmers, Marin County is a really expensive place to do business,” said Hog Island co-owner John Finger. “This is a huge step for us.” The easement represents MALT’s first foray into supporting shellfish farming. The nonprofit’s C.E.O., Thane Kreiner, cited Hog Island’s sustainable mariculture practices as something the trust wanted to support. The company participates in scientific research on ocean acidification and eelgrass conservati