We have some important information we want to share about what is happening in Maine waters.
You may have heard about the Cooke Aquaculture die off near Beals. State agencies are keeping much of the information close to the vest about what happened and what the impact will be. As you may know, Cooke leases over 600 acres of Maine waters along the coast to grow net pen salmon.
The leases involved in the latest die off are some of the leases up for renewal through DMR: https://www.maine.gov/dmr/aquaculture/maine-aquaculture-leases-and-lpas/pending-lease-applications
Coastal Communities are taking notice. In a unanimous vote in Beals on July 23, the town voted to institute an aquaculture moratorium and is beginning work on an aquaculture ordinance.
Beals Moratorium Vote
In Machiasport, headquarters for Cooke in the U.S., it’s been a longer road.
The town decided at the most recent selectboard meeting to send the last ordinance back for review to the planning board with a meeting in September. We will have more on that in the weeks to come.
Machiasport
Elected leaders like to say – “Maine, the way life should be” – How can we help them live up to that credo?
Below are two email addresses that will get you to the right people. Let them know you want better regulation of Maine waters and Industrial scale aquaculture shouldn’t have a home in Maine. Transparency in state government is important. As a concerned citizen, you would like accountability and answers.
Elected leaders work for you - not the lobbyists or the foreign corporations that are buying Maine waters.
Commissioner: Patrick.Keliher@maine.gov
Chief of Staff to the Governor: Jeremy.Kennedy@maine.gov
Protect Maine works hard to ensure the future of our waters. We do this work for people like Jason Faulkingham, the entire lobstering and marine harvesting communities, and those who work and recreate on the water. Industrial Scale Aquaculture has had a comfortable ride in Maine. It’s time to put on the breaks and figure out how to protect our natural resources before they are gone. Maine has a lot at stake.
To support our work: https://www.protectmaine.com/donate
