Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage

For Immediate Release
January 14, 2020

(Portland, Me.) — Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage (PMFH) is releasing a video involving fishermen who believe that the rules and regulations around aquaculture leases need to be changed. Currently, a bill supported by PMFH, LR 2718, has been tabled in legislative council. The proposal calls for lessening the size of aquaculture leases in Maine.

Currently, a single person, business or corporation can lease up to 1,000 acres of the ocean. Those leases can be transferred to an out of state corporation, individual or business without the benefit of a public hearing. The terms of the lease have grown from 10 to 20 years.

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Spokesperson Crystal Canney said, “We believe the stage is being set right now for Maine’s inshore fishery to be owned by big companies. Large aquaculture leases limit the ability of those who want to recreate on the water and those who have traditionally been part of the lobstering and fishing business. The Department of Marine Resources approves in-water marine applications 99% of the time. As we have consistently said – we are not anti-aquaculture, but we are about a fair playing field for all who use the ocean. We also don’t want to see Maine’s Ocean be purchased up by large corporations in the future.”

The video can be found at >ProtectMaine.com<


Crystal Canney
CEO
The Knight Canney Group
207.615.5968
www.knightcanney.com
[email protected]
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