April 23, 2021
Good Morning,
Protect Maine wanted to provide you an update on where we are in the legislative process with LD 1146, An Act to Protect Maine’s Ocean Waters and Support Regulatory Oversight and the Long-term Health of the Aquaculture Industry. The bill was sponsored by Representative Robert Alley. Unfortunately, it was defeated in the legislature. The issues, however, remain and we don’t intend to stop.
I would like to thank all those who testified as they did an excellent job – from lobstermen and sternmen, to concerned citizens, to environmentalists, to business owners, and to small aquaculturists, support for the bill came from many corners. The hearing on the future of Maine’s coast lasted for 6 hours.
There was strong pushback regarding lease sizes. Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage Foundation has been forecasting for two years what is now happening in Frenchman Bay. We have a company with ties to Norway that wants to put in over 100 acres of net-pen salmon at the foot of Acadia National Park, in an area heavily fished by lobstermen. This isn't the first and it certainly won't be the last as Maine is setting the table for industrial-scale out-of-state projects.
Our position is 1,000 acres of the ocean is too much for any business, individual, or corporation.
We also feel aquaculture lease transfers are an issue - leases can be transferred without a public hearing.
In 2017, the length of the leases went from 10-20 years without representation from the lobster industry. It was the same case - no lobster industry representation - when the acreage for leases grew from 250 to 1000 acres.
At the heart of all this, however, is the refusal of the Department of Marine Resources to hold a statewide conversation about what is ahead for the coast of Maine – looking at it in totality. We have and will continue to advocate for a statewide conversation. It’s important now more than ever that we include all voices in this discussion and not just lobbyists.
Thank you for your efforts – much more to come.
Crystal Canney
Executive Director
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation
protectmaine@gmail.com
207-615-5968