MILFORD – An angry group of Connecticut shellfishers demanded Wednesday that Gov. Dannel Malloy cancel a new state leasing policy they insist is so draconian that it will damage the state's lucrative clam and oyster industry.

More than 50 fishermen and fisherwomen, state lawmakers and local officials argued at a press conference Wednesday the new leasing rules are designed to do an end-run around the legislature, which earlier this year rejected a bill that would have given state officials more authority to revoke shellfish leases.

State officials denied their actions would hurt Connecticut's shellfishing industry, which generates more than $30 million in sales each year. They said they are simply "modernizing" the state's leasing policies to protect both honest shellfishermen and the general public.

But the crowd of veteran commercial shellfishers that gathered Wednesday at a spot close to Milford Harbor sharply disagreed. They claim the new policy will allow state officials to cancel leases on long-cultivated oyster and clam beds "for almost any reason," and makes state shellfish leases so risky that they reduce the incentive to make investments to improve their leased beds.

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