April 2023 Update

April 2, 2023

A quick update from Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation

PMFHF learned last month about liens placed on the now defunct American Aquafarms project. It’s a story worth checking out. As you may recall, American Aquafarms wanted to grow 30,000 metric tons of farm-raised salmon in Maine waters at the foot of Acadia National Park. The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) dismissed the application due to an unacceptable source for smolts. Reporting at the Ellsworth American reveals there are new problems: American Aquafarms Liens.

The news is intensifying around industrial scale aquaculture along the Maine coast and across the world. Farmed salmon in the ocean is at the forefront in Canada. Our neighbors to the north are just the latest hitting the pause button on industrial-scale aquaculture as communities tackle the future of their coasts. In Maine, that conversation has not happened and in our opinion it should. The last comprehensive study in Maine was 2004 under former Governor John Baldacci. What quickly evolving business that uses the Maine waters, a public trust, doesn’t need a comprehensive review in 19 years? None we can think of.

Here’s what they are doing in Canada: Nova Scotia shuts down salmon pens (Seafood Source)

In Maine, we are can’t even have the conversation. Efforts to have open conversations about the future of aquaculture, with all stakeholders at the table, have been squelched by both the DMR, lobbyists for the aquaculture industry, and Governor Mills. For insight into how that works and why Maine is at a crossroads, read Lincoln Millstein’s latest piece in The Quietside Journal: This is how we will lose the coast of Maine.

ICYMI: The state is peddling fish farms

Please let Governor Mills know that it’s time to talk and you don’t want industrial aquaculture to define the future of the Maine coast. Email her chief of staff: Jeremy.Kennedy@maine.gov.

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation welcomes Chris Green to the supporter’s group. Chris is a clammer and small scale aquaculturist who supports Protect Maine’s push to keep aquaculture small and work against industrial scale projects that Maine is pursuing.

“Protect Maine is trying to ensure that the playing field is level for everyone and is fighting hard against industrial-scale aquaculture....Protect Maine supports small aquaculturists.”

— Chris Green and Dave Wilson

Thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t do this work without you. Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation is a charitable tax exempt 501c3 organization. Please consider supporting this work.