Penobscot Bay Watch

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

For immediate release July 24, 2003
Contact Ron Huber Penobscot Bay Watch 207-594-5717 coastwatch@acadia.net

Maine Aquaculture Task Force Gets Underway:
State seeks public input on panel's "briefing papers".

Augusta. Governor John Baldacci's Blue Ribbon Task Force, on Marine Aquaculture has begun operations, seeking public input on its list of briefing papers, and setting its first public meeting for August 7-8th, in Eastport. The Task Force will review such issues as the role of municipalities in aquaculture leasing, the impact of aquaculture on Maine's wild fisheries, coastal resorts, tourism and coastal communities, and issue a report to the Legislature in January 2004. The report will suggest changes to Maine's aquaculture laws for consideration by the Legislature.

The Governor's appointees to the Task Force include representatives of Maine Sea Grant; University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, Blue Hill Heritage Land Trust, Ducktrap River Fish Farms, law firm Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson; the Cobscook Bay Resource Center; the Gulf of Maine Research Institute; Finance Authority of Maine, the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System; and marine consultant Resource Services Inc.

Maine's legislative leaders have chimed in, with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House jointly appointing 11 Maine citizens to a stakeholder advisory panel to advise and oversee the Task Force. The eleven were appointed from the following sectors: Two finfish aquaculture industry reps, (one large & one small company); Two shellfish aquaculture reps one large, one small company), One commercial fishing rep, one municipal harbormaster, one recreational marine industry rep; one coastal land trust; one environmental group; one tourist industry rep, one marine shipbuilding rep. See list of stakeholder advisory panelists

NOTE: At press time the commercial fishing industry representative had yet to be chosen

DMR has issued a request for written or emailed comments on the 'briefing papers' being supplied to the Task Force as guidance documents during their efforts to craft aquaculture legislation. Send your comments to DMR by email to marine.aqua@maine.gov

Concerns have been raised that the list of guidance documents is too small, and includes some reports that are outdated or contain inaccuracies, and are thus not reflective of current conditions of aquaculture in Maine.

Read the Task Force Guidance Documents Online Here (Note: many are .PDF files.)

For more information: CLICK HERE

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