Good Morning,
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation was part of a large protest flotilla regarding the proposed 120 acres of salmon pens in Frenchman Bay. American Aquafarms is a Norwegian company that has proposed a massive, industrial scale finfish project for Frenchman Bay. The proposed salmon aquaculture leases are in a heavily lobstered and fished area. Small aquaculturists have expressed concern about this project at the foot of one of Maine’s jewels, Acadia National Park. Lobstermen, fishermen, small aquaculturists along with those who recreate on the water have pushed back hard on the project. Recently, Maine Coast Heritage Trust. added its voice to those who are in opposition. The flotilla pictures were great and here is a link to a video showing a sample of what occurred that day.
The turnout by lobstermen and women was impressive. There were a number of folks who came from all over and it was a wonderful sight to see. It was an amazing day.
If you haven’t seen the stories about the farm-raised salmon die-off near Black Island, please take a minute and read the news reports. What is believed to be thousands of pounds of salmon died in one of the net pens owned by Cooke Aquaculture. Cooke currently is the largest aquaculture leaseholder in the state with more than 600 acres. Protect Maine has filed Freedom of Access Act requests as well asking for transparency around what really caused the die-off. Protect Maine, along with several other groups, signed a letter asking numerous questions about the die-off. You can read more here.
Maine Public Radio:
MDI Islander:
https://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/waterfront/fish-die-off-reported-at-black-island-fish-farm
As we watch the impacts of industrial-scale aquaculture, whether its impact on the economy or the environment, we go back to our original mission which is to change the rules and regulations that got us here in the first place.
Right now, individuals, businesses and corporations can:
Lease up to 1,000 acres
Hold those leases for 20 years
Transfer those leases without a public hearing
What are our elected officials doing to change the rules and regulations so we don’t sell the Maine coast?
As always, this work is only possible with contributors to this organization. If you would like to make a donation you can either donate online at: protectmaine.com/donate
Or send a check to: Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation, 103 Gleckler Road, Portland, ME 04103
Sincerely,
Crystal Canney
Executive Director
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation
207-615-5968
protectmaine@gmail.com
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
www.winterharbortown.com