Newsletter Update: Frenchman Bay, Rulemaking Petition, How You Can Help

Good morning all,

As we continue to watch developments in Frenchman Bay, I am reminded why Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation believes protecting the ocean from large-scale industrial aquaculture is so important to the future of the state’s economy, its heritage, sense of place and what Maine has to offer the rest of the world. 

This is a battle for the soul and financial survival of the fishing industries, recreational businesses, and those who enjoy the Maine coast. 

For two years, Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation has been pointing out the issues around rules and regulations that are flawed in Maine. 

We believe:

  • 1,000 acres is too much for any one individual, corporation, or business to lease  

  • Lease terms are too long - the leases can be held for 20 years, which is up from 10 years as of 2017 

  • It is wrong that the leases can be transferred to anyone, business or corporation without a mandatory public hearing

On July 1, 2021, Protect Maine submitted a rulemaking petition for the second time to the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to once again do the right thing when it comes to protecting our coast. The petition was signed by lobstermen and women, others in the fishing industries and citizens. It includes all of the issues we stated above.

It is now up to DMR with leadership from the Governor’s office to address these concerns and this is their opportunity to do so.

Protect Maine is supportive of small-scale aquaculture but what we are watching with the American Aquafarms application in Frenchman Bay is large-scale industrial aquaculture due to size and in water net-pen salmon. Protect Maine has been warning about setting the table for industrial-scale aquaculture for two years and unfortunately, we were right about predicting the future. 

On June 23, 2021, American Aquafarms held the mandatory scoping session on the proposed 120 acre in-water net-pen salmon project. Only 13 people were allowed to speak during the scoping session before American Aquafarms cut it off.  Here are the next steps in the process:

  • DMR will hold a site location visit – PMFHF has asked to be notified when that will happen. 

  • A DMR public hearing will be scheduled – we have no timeframe for that right now but expect it will be several months.

  • A Department of Environmental Protection hearing will be scheduled

  • When the state process is concluded the Army Corps of Engineers could hold a hearing as well, but to date they have not received an application from American Aquafarms.

In the meantime, lobstermen and women are stepping up to the plate because they know the impact this project will have. 

On June 15, the Bar Harbor town council received a petition for the lobstermen and women in Bar Harbor telling them about their concerns regarding American Aquafarms.  As a result, the council voted to gain intervenor status which will give the town legal standing at the public hearing.

Protect Maine is one of several groups that make up Frenchman Bay United. We feel fortunate to have passionate advocates working with us in this part of the coast. Our mission is broader as we are looking at the entire coastline while working in tandem with this group of people committed to defeating American Aquafarms. Because of the rules and regulations in place, it’s American Aquafarms today and another company of industrial-scale tomorrow. 

We can’t let that happen – not for the lobstermen, the small aquaculturists, the environmentalists – or anyone who enjoys the beauty of the Maine coast. If you would like to donate to our organization, you can do so at Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage Foundation or email me at: protectmaine@gmail.com 

There is a lot to be done so today Protect Maine is sending out a call to action.

Please email the Governor and the Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources,  Patrick Keliher and tell them – 

No! American Aquafarms is wrong for Maine and Frenchman Bay which sits at the foot of Acadia National Park.

We are calling on the Governor and the Department of Marine Resources to rewrite the rules and regulations that leave our coast open for industrial scale in-water aquaculture. We feel the rules and regulations do not protect Maine’s ocean!

If you would like to join our effort, just email us your name and place of residence and we will add you to our growing list which you can view on the Protect Maine website at this link.

Sincerely,

Crystal Canney
Executive Director
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation
207-615-5968
protectmaine@gmail.com 
Facebook

Opposition groups

Please join one of these groups for the latest information and to support their role as leading opponents of the American Aquafarms’ proposal.

Friends of Frenchman Bay  http://friendsoffrenchmanbay.org

Friends of Eastern Bay  www.friendsofeasternbay.org

Friends of Schoodic Peninsula  www.facebook.com/salmonproposal/

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation  www.protectmaine.com


Key agencies

Maine Department of Marine Resources
Patrick Keliher, Commissioner
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
www.maine.gov/dmr/aquaculture/index.html

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jay L. Clement, Senior Project Manager
Maine Project Office
442 Civic Center Drive, Suite 350
Augusta, Maine 04330
jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil
 

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner
17 State House Station
28 Tyson Drive
Augusta, Maine 04333-0017
www.maine.gov/dep/contact/index.html


Governor and Congressional Delegation

Governor T. Janet Mills
1 State House Station 
Augusta, ME 04333 
207-287-3531
www.maine.gov/governor/mills/contact

U.S. Senator Angus King
202 Harlow St., Suite 20350 
Bangor, ME 04401 
Phone: (207) 945-8000
www.king.senate.gov/contact

U.S Senator Susan Collins
202 Harlow Street, Room 20100
Bangor, ME 04401
Main: (207) 945-0417
www.collins.senate.gov/contact

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden
6 State Street, Suite 101
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 249-7400
https://golden.house.gov/contact
 

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree
2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 304
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-5019 
pingree.house.gov/contact/


State Legislators who represent towns on the bay

Hancock County
State Sen. Louis Luchini
P.O. Box 1311
Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 664-4699
Louis.Luchini@legislature.maine.gov

Gouldsboro, Hancock, Sorrento, Sullivan, Winter Harbor 
State Rep. William “Billy Bob” Faulkingham
P.O. Box 121
Winter Harbor, ME 04693
Cell: (207) 460-6967
William.Faulkingham@legislature.maine.gov

Bar Harbor, Lamoine, Mt. Desert 
State Rep. Lynne Williams
13 Albert Meadow
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Cell: (207) 266-6327
Lynne.Williams@legislature.maine.gov

Trenton
Rep. Nicole Grohoski
P.O. Box 1732
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Cell: (207) 358-8333
Nicole.Grohoski@legislature.maine.gov


Town governments

http://www.barharbormaine.gov
https://www.gouldsborotown.com
http://www.hancockmaine.org
http://www.lamoine-me.gov
http://sorrentomaine.blogspot.com/p/town-office-info.html
https://sullivanmaine.org
https://www.trentonme.com