(Augusta, Me) – American Aquafarms, a company led by a Norwegian businessman with a troubled financial past, has been accepted for consideration by the Department of Marine Resources for exclusive use with the state for 30 pens of in-water salmon aquaculture in Frenchman Bay adjacent to Acadia National Park. The application was immediately met with strong opposition from local lobstermen and women, and numerous groups opposing the project.

Originally Published in the Mount Desert Islander

To the Editor:

“Let’s get the record straight,” pleads Sebastian Belle (Islander, April 29), the executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association. But the argument he sets out is far from straightforward.

Try as he might to frame the controversy as “wealthy landowners” versus “the working waterfront,” preventing the industrialization of Maine’s coastal communities is about a lot more than the people opposing it.

Good Afternoon,

Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage Foundation is actively working with 4 different groups in Frenchman Bay around opposing a large-scale aquaculture project. As you may be aware, there is a proposal for two aquaculture leases totaling more than a hundred acres for in-water salmon pens at the foot of Acadia National Park.

Letter to the Editor originally published in the Bangor Daily News

I lobster out of Lamoine and Frenchman Bay is one of my greatest fishing areas. I don’t understand how we have gotten to the point in Maine where we would want large scale industrial aquaculture in rich fishing grounds. But here we are entertaining 30 pens containing salmon to be raised in the ocean.

(Frenchman Bay, Maine) - American Aquafarms is proposing an industrial scale salmon farm using untested technology at the foot of Acadia National Park. On April 28th, American Aquafarms held a sham question and answer session in which the audience was hidden, the chat and question functions were disabled, and the company selected the questions.

Originally Published in the Mount Desert Islander

By Jerilyn M. Bowers

Sebastian Belle is quick to lay blame (Islander, April 29) on a “few wealthy landowners” for “attacking the many who make their living on the water.” While that scenario makes for good theater, it is simply a clever attempt to distract you from the facts.

Let’s do as Mr. Belle suggests and “get the record straight” by reviewing the facts:

(Portland, Me.) Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) is supporting LD 101 which would pause all wind energy projects in state waters. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R- Winter Harbor).

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.

Originally Published in the Portland Press Herald

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rock Alley is the president of the Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation and a third generation fisherman from Jonesport Beals.

There is something wrong when you can’t even have a conversation in Maine without sending people into an uproar.

That is one of the many reasons Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) is supporting L.D. 1146. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Alley who comes from a multigenerational fishing family in Jonesport and Beals, is well-crafted.

PMFHF Executive Director Crystal Canney said, “While the landings value is a great number – more than 405 million dollars, the impact of the lobster industry is much higher, it’s believed the impact of indirect jobs puts the lobster industry worth more than 1 billion dollars a year. The lobster is Maine’s most iconic brand and its most valuable fishery.”

While the state noted that the market could have collapsed due to COVID-19, there are still a number of obstacles lobstermen are fighting today. Everything from right whale regulations, to siting around offshore wind to conflicts with corporate aquaculture that are growing along Maine’s coast.