From the Bangor Daily News

Crystal Canney, head of a group called Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation, said that the group, along with traditional fishermen and small-scale aquaculture growers, is concerned that such a large “industrialized” project would have “a tremendous impact on the Maine coast and the lobster industry.”

She said the group has not yet seen American Aquafarm’s specific proposal to the Department of Marine Resources, which is not expected to be publicly available until after department staff reviews the applications.

Stonington, ME – Lobstermen from Machias to Boothbay Harbor rallied on the Stonington Commercial Fish Pier to draw greater attention to the issues facing the survival of their industry and the livelihoods of coastal Maine communities.

Lobsterman Julie Eaton led off the day saying, “NOAA knows that not one Right Whale has been proven to have been entangled in Maine rope in many years and the new proposed regulations would only cause extreme danger to our lobstermen. We are the first line of protection to the marine mammals of all types and had much rather work on sensible solutions that work for everyone. Between the proposed new regulations for the Right Whale, a bait shortage and the threat of aquacultures leases that could allow a single person sole use of 1000 acres of our fishing grounds, these are dark times for Maine’s lobstermen. We are hoping that our state and federal politicians will hear our plea and stand by us and our coastal communities.”