For Immediate Release, March 29, 2022
(Bar Harbor, Maine) -- After two days of testimony, the hearing for a lease in Frenchman Bay has ended. If approved, the 48- acres lease would bring the total number of leased acreage by Acadia Aquafarms to more than 200 acres. Acadia Aquafarms has another 68-acre lease application pending. This lease will facilitate the production of 1000 tons of mussels, 10 million scallops, 1000 tons of softshell clams and 1000 tons of hardshell clams, enough capacity to seed the applicants five existing ground bottom leases.
Lobsterman Duncan Haass, one of many lobstermen who testified said, “I come from a generation of fishing families. I am deeply concerned about the fishing area that will be lost as I set traps in those areas and have for years. I set about 200 traps a summer in the Lamoine park area and in that specific site where the lease is proposed – about 60 traps.”
Acadia Aquafarms is not to be confused with American Aquafarms which has applied for 120 acres for net pen salmon and has yet to complete its application.
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation Executive Director Crystal Canney said, “What we are seeing is a gold rush mentality for aquaculture leases in the ocean. In the case of Acadia Aquafarms, we have one entity leasing hundreds of acres. Now, Acadia Aquafarms is asking lobstermen and women, those in other fisheries, and the public to give up another 48 acres in a small bay. And we know the Department of Marine Resources approves these leases 95% of the time. What we saw in this hearing was strong pushback from the fishing community and members of the public on leasing any more of the Maine ocean. We heard it from scientists, recreational users, and those who make a living on the water. The exclusive use for one company will put others out of work and endanger sensitive scientific research underway in the area. This is an attempted ocean grab.”
The MDI Biological Laboratory, located in Salisbury Cove just 1400 feet from the proposed lease, expressed concerns about the potential impact noise and vibrations from the industrial harvesting and cleaning equipment will have on sensitive instrumentation and significant medical research.
Student lobster license holder Karessa Anderson who lobsters in the area testified, “I work three paying jobs in the summer and my biggest income is from the lobstering industry. I use this money for gas to get to work, I volunteer as a track coach, I buy my school clothes, pay for car insurance. But the biggest piece of my money will go towards undergraduate school in pre-law. It’s expensive and I am doing everything I can to make this happen. I don’t understand why the state would continually take away lobster bottom for the sake of one company. It’s hard to imagine that the de Konings need more acreage and more money from that acreage. I am just trying to pay my way to get an education.”