(Frenchman Bay, Maine) - American Aquafarms is proposing an industrial scale salmon farm using untested technology at the foot of Acadia National Park. On April 28th, American Aquafarms held a sham question and answer session in which the audience was hidden, the chat and question functions were disabled, and the company selected the questions.

Originally Published in the Mount Desert Islander

By Jerilyn M. Bowers

Sebastian Belle is quick to lay blame (Islander, April 29) on a “few wealthy landowners” for “attacking the many who make their living on the water.” While that scenario makes for good theater, it is simply a clever attempt to distract you from the facts.

Let’s do as Mr. Belle suggests and “get the record straight” by reviewing the facts:

(Portland, Me.) Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) is supporting LD 101 which would pause all wind energy projects in state waters. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R- Winter Harbor).

Protect Maine wanted to provide you an update on where we are in the legislative process with LD 1146, An Act to Protect Maine’s Ocean Waters and Support Regulatory Oversight and the Long-term Health of the Aquaculture Industry. The bill was sponsored by Representative Robert Alley. Unfortunately, it was defeated in the legislature. The issues, however, remain and we don’t intend to stop.

Originally Published in the Portland Press Herald

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rock Alley is the president of the Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation and a third generation fisherman from Jonesport Beals.

There is something wrong when you can’t even have a conversation in Maine without sending people into an uproar.

That is one of the many reasons Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) is supporting L.D. 1146. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Alley who comes from a multigenerational fishing family in Jonesport and Beals, is well-crafted.

PMFHF Executive Director Crystal Canney said, “While the landings value is a great number – more than 405 million dollars, the impact of the lobster industry is much higher, it’s believed the impact of indirect jobs puts the lobster industry worth more than 1 billion dollars a year. The lobster is Maine’s most iconic brand and its most valuable fishery.”

While the state noted that the market could have collapsed due to COVID-19, there are still a number of obstacles lobstermen are fighting today. Everything from right whale regulations, to siting around offshore wind to conflicts with corporate aquaculture that are growing along Maine’s coast.

Good Morning,

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) will be supporting a bill critical to the protection of our oceans, including the protection of the ocean bottom. Among our concerns is the reporting by some lobstermen that conditions around in-water salmon pens are harming the lobster habitat.

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to amend the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, chapter 605 and Title 38, chapter 3 to protect Maine’s ocean waters, support robust regulatory oversight and the long-term health of the aquaculture industry and advance the interests of the people of the State.

By Ian Urbina, originally published in The New Yorker

Gunjur, a town of some fifteen thousand people, sits on the Atlantic coastline of southern Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa. In the spring of 2017, the town’s white-sand beaches were full of activity. Fishermen steered long, vibrantly painted wooden canoes, known as pirogues, toward the shore, where they transferred their still-fluttering catch to women waiting at the water’s edge. The fish were hauled off to nearby open-air markets in rusty metal wheelbarrows or in baskets balanced on heads. Small boys played soccer as tourists watched from lounge chairs. At nightfall, the beach was dotted with bonfires. There were drumming and kora lessons; men with oiled chests grappled in traditional wrestling matches.

Originally published in the Ellsworth American

By Keith Kennedy

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) stands firmly in its support of Maine’s heritage fisheries and small aquaculturists along Maine’s treasured coast. PMFHF is a relatively young nonprofit and has supported legislation that will protect Maine’s waters. Our philanthropy recently worked to raise money to provide COVID relief to lobstermen. Our board is comprised of longtime lobstermen and concerned citizens. Our membership is expanding beyond the lobstering community to people who recreate along the coast and small aquaculturists who are concerned with what is happening with regard to the recent increased number of proposed and approved larger and inappropriately sited aquaculture farms.