(Portland, Maine) – Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) has been working with lobstermen and more recently small aquaculturists to protect Maine’s coast from industrialized aquaculture.
PMFHF will not support a project targeted for Frenchman Bay in Gouldsboro. The American Aquafarms project calls for two in water salmon aquaculture sites. Zach Piper, who lobsters in the area and has been outspoken around the issue, noted in a recent Bangor Daily News letter to the editor, “I hope before anything moves forward, that the Department of Marine Resources denies this lease. We need to take a hard look at this company and all the large-scale aquaculture rules that have been put in place so that out-of-state and out-of-country interests don’t own one of Maine’s greatest treasurers: our coast.”
PMFHF has heard from multiple lobstermen who say that they are concerned about losing the bottom in the area as well as the potential environmental damage from industrialized aquaculture.
Crystal Canney, Executive Director of PMFHF said, “PMFHF has spoken to both supporters of the project and state regulators and it’s clear American Aquafarms intends to file an application. We have heard over and over again that the identified area in Gouldsboro is heavily fished by lobstermen. The two leases total more than 100 acres but under our current state regulations those leases have the potential to grow to 1,000 acres. PMFHF supports legislation that will work to reduce acreage, looks at how easy it is to transfer a lease to an individual, business or corporation and the increasing conflict between proposed in-water aquaculture projects and all those who live, work and recreate along Maine’s coast. PMFHF is calling for a plan to look at Maine’s coast.”
Canney added, “Our overarching concern is that the Department of Marine Resources doesn’t have the staff, the resources, or the will to address what is becoming a serious public policy issue – the future of the Maine coast. It’s inherent that if and when these conversations happen all stakeholders are at the table not just those in the aquaculture industry who have a vested interest in growing lease sizes. Small aquaculturists in Maine have expressed similar concerns about large leases along the coast. Maine’s waters are a public trust and it’s time to take a breather and create a plan for the future.”
PMFHF is a statewide organization working to ensure that Maine’s coast is protected and accessible to all.