Letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding Salmon aquaculture lease proposal in Frenchman Bay

June 01, 2021

Dear Mr. Clement:

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) along with a number of lobstermen and women is deeply concerned about the effects of the proposed American Aquafarms in water salmon pen aquaculture leases in Frenchman Bay at the foot of Acadia National Park.

You may have already received a number of requests for a stringent review of the discharge proposal that could have deleterious effects on the pristine waters in the bay. There is no question that producing 66 million pounds of salmon a year will have an environmental impact with semi-closed pens.

It goes without saying that rapidly expanding industrial scale aquaculture in Maine waters is of considerable concern to many lobstermen and women, those who recreate along the coast and those who have treasured the Maine waters generationally.

PMFHF’s Board of Directors along with others in the industry, adds its voice to a letter you recently received from concerned groups and citizens. The controversy around this proposal has been substantial and as such warrants an Environmental Impact Statement.

We believe that the size and scope of this project is not a good fit for Frenchman Bay or any other areas of the state. In-water net pen salmon has, as I am sure you are aware, been controversial in and of itself.

Sincerely,

Crystal Canney, Executive Director, Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF)

Zach Piper, Hancock Lobsterman & Director, PMFHF

Tyler Piper, Hancock Lobsterman

Mark Bennett, Hancock Lobsterman

James Hanscom, Bar Harbor Lobsterman

Rock Alley, Stonington Lobsterman, President PMFHF

Adam Ulrickson, Freeport Lobsterman

Julie Eaton, Deer Isle Lobsterwoman

Richard Larrabee, Sr., Stonington Lobsterman

cc:

U.S. Senator Susan Collins

U.S. Senator Angus King

U.S. Representative Jared Golden

Governor Janet Mills

Commissioner Patrick Keliher, Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner

Melanie Loyzim, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Maine State Senator Louis Luchini

Maine State Representative Lynne Williams

Maine State Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham