** MAINE COASTAL NEWS ** MAINE COASTAL NEWS ** MAINE COASTAL NEWS **

August 19, 2003

Contact Penobscot Bay Watch 207-594-5717 email coastwatch@acadia.net

Maine Aquaculture Task Force hires Canadian consultants for fish farm economics study.

Two Canadian companies have been hired by the Maine Department of Marine Resources to carry out an economic analysis of aquaculture in Maine state waters. The $50,000 contract requires the firms to produce a report for the Maine Aquaculture Task Force that: "analyzes the present and future economic impact and business viability of marine aquaculture in the State"

The report will give a picture of the revenues, costs, employment and overall income associated with aquaculture in Maine. It will also assess the growth potential of various species cultured in Maine state waters, including salmon, halibut, mussels, oysters, scallops and clams.

The report will be used by the Task Force to shape its recommendations to the Maine Legislature, where a new aquaculture reform bill is expected to arise early next year.

Gardner-Pinfold Consulting Economists Ltd, of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Aquaculture Management Services, Inc, of Saint John, New Brunswick were selected by the Maine Department of Marine Resources to carry out the study. The two companies have collaborated on projects in the past. Read their proposal submitted to Maine DMR.

• Nova Scotia-based Gardner Pinfold is a marine fisheries and aquaculture consultant to government and industry. It specializes in "the economic analysis of marine fisheries and aquaculture and the challenges facing their development and growth." The company also is a partner in a fish pen construction firm in British Columbia.

• Aquaculture Management Services Inc. of New Brunswick is another finfish aquaculture consultant The company specializes in "the development of intensive, industrial scale aquaculture, as well as the application and integration of new technology."

According to their proposal the companies will host interviews and focus groups with representatives of dozens of aquaculture companies, related service and supply firms, government agencies and non-government organizations. The information gathered will be used for an economic impact analysis of the Maine aquaculture industry, and to make projections on aquaculture industry growth in state waters

Reaction to the hiring of the two firms is mixed. A representative of the Atlantic Salmon Federation wrote that Gardner Pinfold consultants "have done a very reputable job on studies on salmon rivers in the Maritime Provinces."

But others question the firms' impartiality when it comes to cultivated salmon. "To some extent the Gardner Pinfold study plan looks preloaded to come up with results calling for more salmon farms in Maine state waters." said Ron Huber, executive director of Penobscot Bay Watch. Huber also noted that Aquaculture Management Services Inc (AMSI) is an investor in Ocean Spar Technologies, Inc., producer of floating and submersible fish cages for existing salmon farms and for future offshore fishfarms.

"How likely is it that AMSI will issue a call for less fish farm cages, even if the data shows salmon farming in Maine state waters to be a questionable investment?"

He called for the Aquaculture Task Force's Stakeholder Advisory Panel to closely monitor the Gardner Pinfold/Aquaculture Management Services study as it progresses.

The Task Force on Marine Aquaculture in Maine is reviewing the role of municipalities in aquaculture leasing and the impact of aquaculture on Maine's wild fisheries, coastal resorts, tourism and coastal communities, and will issue a report to the Legislature in January 2004. The report will suggest changes to Maine's aquaculture laws for consideration by the Legislature.

* Background information
* More About the Aquaculture Task Force
* Maine DMR's Aquaculture Task Force web pages
* Maine Fishfarm News Summaries 2003
* Citizens' and groups' testimony about aquaculture bills at 2002-2003 Maine legislative session