Maine is being set up to sell its coastline to Industrial Scale Aquaculture
MAY 02, 2022
(Portland, Me) — On March 18th, a letter was sent to Gayle Zydlewski the Director of the Maine Sea Grant College Program, signed by several academics from the University of Maine, Bates College, scientists, business owners, students, members of the 2003 Aquaculture Task Force, and a former Department of Marine Resources Commissioner, calling into question whether the report, in part directed by the Maine Aquaculture Association, is simply a promotional tool for large scale industrial aquaculture.
The letter states: “We believe aquaculture has an important role to play in Maine’s economy and recognize its potential to attract and retain young people in our state, produce healthy food, and strengthen the resilience of the marine sector. Yet efforts to advance aquaculture, such as the Maine Aquaculture Roadmap, must not supersede meaningful public dialogue, silence divergent viewpoints, or systematically privilege the most powerful voices.”
The report is more of a railroading than roadmap, Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Executive Director Crystal Canney said, “The 10-year aquaculture roadmap is an economic development plan that isn’t about what’s best for Maine but what is best for large scale industrial aquaculture. Lobbying groups and associations that benefit financially from large scale industrial aquaculture cherry picked content and railroaded the report development process. The report was not an inclusive statewide conversation or planning process for aquaculture, did not promote public dialogue, or include viewpoints from all of Maine’s Ocean stakeholders.”
As is noted in the letter to Ms. Zydlewski The roadmap reads as a broad prospectus on the future of aquaculture, closing the door on broader dialogue about a vision for aquaculture in Maine. Participants in the process do not represent the diversity of Maine’s ocean users. Themes of the map are framed as one-way communication of aquaculture’s benefits, rather than meaningful engagement for all stakeholders of Maine’s ocean waters.
Canney notes, “What is needed is a long-term strategy for sustainable aquaculture in Maine’s waters. The working waterfront was built by owner/operator businesses, not large scale industry. The push for large scale industrial aquaculture at any cost, anywhere in the state is creating significant conflict. A biased economic plan, mislabeled as a roadmap, which supports large, industrial scale aquaculture at the expense of owner/operator lobstermen, fishermen and aquaculturists is not good for Maine.”
Contact:
Crystal Canney
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation
207-615-5968
