===================================================================

For Immediate Release

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

Maine Aquaculture Task Force opts for baywide management study, questions future economic growth of salmon farming in Maine.

ROCKLAND. The Task Force on Maine Aquaculture in Maine met yesterday at the Trade Winds Motor Inn in Rockland, and heard a somewhat bleak assessment of the economic future of salmon farming in Maine. The task force also opted to examine at their next meeting a new plan for bay-level management & protection of Maine waters.

The Task Force and its Stakeholder Advisory Panel heard a state-commissioned study by Halifax consultant Gardner Pinfold Economists that suggested that Maine salmon farming could be profitable if it was capable of growth, but that court-imposed ecological and environmental limits on siting salmon farms, and the existing intensive use of Maine coastal waters by profitable lobstering, scalloping, tourism and resort industries severely limits the industry growth potential to a very small geographic area of Maine's coastal waters.

Listen to a recording of last night's discussion between the Task Force and the two consultants at the following weblink (Needs Real audio) Click Here

The Task Force also heard sharp criticism of the aquaculture industry from a member of its Stakeholder Advisory Panel. Panel shellfish representative Rob Bauer delivered testimony graphically outlining the risks that promoting aquaculture expansion posed to the state's existing and highly profitable coastal fisheries and tourism industries. Bauer called the Maine salmon farm industry "the Donut Tire in the Trunk of the International Salmon SUV," and challenged the task force to examine the economic benefits of aquaculture very carefully.

The Task Force also agreed to look in more depth at a plan put forward by marine scientist Josie Quintrell that would establish regional marine science databases for each area of the Maine coast and provide it to decisionmakers and stakeholders at aquaculture lease hearings. Quintrell is a member of the task force. Her system would also rely on coastal towns voluntarily adding aquaculture growth zones and no-aquaculture growth zones to their list of users of town waters in town ordinances.

The Task Force agreed to examine her plan in detail at its next meeting in November

The Task Force also heard a proposal by Saint George Harbormaster Dave Schmanska for improving muncipal input into the leasing process; and a discussion by state Assit attorney gneral Jeff Pido of the history of the public trust doctrine in Maine and how it preempts most municipal law.

The evening session allowed the Task Force members to hear from a vcariety of fishermen, landowners, civic leaders, conservationists, aquaculturists and others from around the region with their take on the se issues. End.

More links to Information about the Aquaculture Task Force