GAC Chemical pollution analysis. Briefing document February 26, 2026

Stockton Harbor Environmental Contamination

Report produced by Claude AI, analyzing Ron Huber's documentation of the industrial uses of Kidder Point   Note: it was Kidder's Point until 1962  when the posssessive case was dropped from map place names as a federal cartography policy. 

Contents 

Executive Summary

Sections

I. Historical Baseline: Natural System Documentation (1882-1911).
II. Industrial Contamination Timeline (1906-Present).
III. Causeway Impact: Circulation System Degradation (1969-1989).
IV. Current Contamination Evidence (2015-2025).
V. Legal Framework for Municipal Action.
VI. Contamination Transport Analysis: Regional Threat.
VII. Municipal Action Framework.
VIII. Expected Outcomes and Legal Precedent.
IX. Conclusion and Recommendations.

Briefing Document: Historical Evidence and Municipal Authority.

Subject: Century of Industrial Contamination and Municipal Standing Under Maine Title 12 §573
Date: February 2026

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Executive Summary

This briefing documents was produced by a Claude AI program summarizing  information supplied it by Ron Huber, It describes a century-long transformation of Stockton Harbor from a highly productive estuarine system (Wabanaki "Essq" - "Great Shellfish Bay") to a contaminated semi-enclosed basin requiring municipal intervention. Historical bathymetric evidence (1882-2023), professional environmental assessments (2015, 2025), and federal court precedent (1978, 2002) establish:

1. Systematic industrial contamination from 1925-present at GAC Chemical site (Kidder Point).
2. Fundamental alteration of natural circulation by Sears Island Causeway (completed 1989).
3. Regulatory failure by state agencies to enforce environmental protections.
4. Municipal authority and standing under Maine Title 12 §573 to protect public trust rights.
5. Active contamination transport via fluid mud erosion threatening regional waters.

Legal Basis for Action: Maine municipalities have clear jurisdiction under Title 12 §573 to exercise police powers protecting public trust rights in intertidal areas. State regulatory failure to address chronic contamination creates both municipal authority and responsibility for protective action.

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I. Historical Baseline: Natural System Documentation                 (1882-1911) based on historic bathymetric surveys

Chart Analysis: Pre-Industrial Conditions

1882 Bathymetric Survey

• Harbor Configuration: Open water connections throughout system.
• Tidal Exchange: Unrestricted flow between Stockton Harbor and Penobscot Bay.
• Depth Patterns: 6-12 feet near Kidder Point shoreline, 15-30+ feet central harbor.
• Circulation: Multiple natural flow pathways supporting estuarine productivity.
• Legal Significance: Establishes documented natural baseline predating all industrial activity.

1889 Bathymetric Survey

• Configuration Stability: Identical to 1882 survey, confirming consistent natural conditions.
• Harbor Integrity: No restrictions to tidal exchange.
• Depth Consistency: Stable bottom topography over 7-year period.
• Legal Significance: Demonstrates long-term natural equilibrium supporting productive ecosystem.

1902 Bathymetric Survey

• 20-Year Consistency: Natural system unchanged from 1882 baseline.
• Pre-Industrial State: Survey precedes all chemical manufacturing (begins 1925).
• Documented Productivity: Conditions supporting "Essq" designation intact.
• Legal Significance: Final documentation of pristine harbor before industrial transformation.

1911 Bathymetric Survey

• 30-Year Natural Baseline: Last survey before industrial contamination begins.
• System Stability: Harbor maintained productive conditions throughout entire survey period.
• Pre-Phosphate Operations: Chart represents conditions before regular Florida phosphate shipments (1912).
• Legal Significance: Establishes that restoration targets documented, stable, long-term natural conditions.

Legal Implications of Historical Baseline:

The 30-year consistency (1882-1911) demonstrates:

• Natural system was inherently stable and self-maintaining.
• Productivity supported Wabanaki "Essq" designation.
• Industrial contamination represents fundamental disruption to documented equilibrium.
• Restoration to natural conditions is achievable, not speculative.

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II. Industrial Contamination Timeline (1906-Present)

Phase 1: Infrastructure Development (1906-1925)

1906: Passenger terminal and steamship dock construction at Kidder Point.
1912: Regular phosphate rock shipments from Boca Grande, Florida via S.S. Millinocket
1924: Emergency fertilizer cargo operations following Cape Jellison fire.
1925: Summers Fertilizer Company permanent operations commence.

Legal Significance: Establishes continuous industrial use exceeding 100 years with documented radioactive material transport (phosphate rock contains naturally occurring uranium/radium).

Phase 2: Peak Chemical Manufacturing (1943-1970)

1943: Northern Chemical Industries expands operations
1950: $10 million facility expansion announced (equivalent ~$100M today)
1953: Aluminum sulfate process added
1955: Ammonia plant construction ($9M investment)
1956: Ammonia nitrate and nitric acid plants constructed
1965: Technical documentation shows 45,000 tons/year ammonia production capacity

Documented Operations (1965 EPA/Superfund Records):

• 7 major chemical plants operating simultaneously
• 170 tons/day sulfuric acid production (62,000+ tons/year)
• Direct bay discharge: "Noxious fumes scrubbed against cascading sea water. The sea water flows back into the bay."
• Waste disposal: "Mud pumped to collecting pond for disposal"
• Infrastructure condition: "worn and aged," "dirty and fairly unkempt," "essentially worn out"

1970: W.R. Grace discontinues major production; Delta Chemical assumes operations

Legal Significance: Establishes massive scale of contamination (tens of thousands of tons annually), multiple discharge pathways, and documented regulatory knowledge of operations.

Phase 3: Federal Court Documentation of Contamination (1974)

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad Co. v. Ship Fernview, 455 F. Supp. 1043 (D. Me. 1978)

Incident: August 21, 1974 - Norwegian cargo vessel collided with railroad pier in dense acid fog

Court Findings on Delta Chemical Negligence (20% fault assigned):

• 98% sulfuric acid recorder malfunction at 0030 hours
• Plant operated "flying blind" for 6.5 hours before shutdown
• Excessive SO3 emissions created sulfuric acid mist
• Acid mist "contributed to and made more dense the preexisting natural fog"
• Failed to warn Coast Guard, Maine State Police, or maritime authorities

Environmental Evidence:

• Longshoremen experienced "thick, noxious fog" with "distinctive pungent odor"
• Respiratory difficulties and eye irritation at pier 1.3 miles from plant
• North and east winds carried emissions across harbor
• Visibility reduced to 10 feet or less
• Delta received complaints from Stockton Springs residents about air pollution

Legal Precedent Established:

• Manufacturer negligently emitting opaque gas obstructing waterways = liable for damages
• Industrial emissions causing navigation hazards = proximate cause of maritime accidents
• Duty to monitor, mitigate hazards, and warn public authorities
• "Multiple hazards reasonably foreseeable" standard applied

Legal Significance: Federal court established corporate liability for environmental contamination affecting navigable waters and public safety. Demonstrates that contamination impacts were known, foreseeable, and legally actionable as early as 1974.

Phase 4: Corporate Succession and Chronic Violations (1994-Present)

1994: General Alum & Chemical Corporation purchases Delta Chemical assets
1997-2001: Chronic Clean Water Act violations documented

Conservation Law Foundation v. GAC Chemical (2002)

Documented Violations:

• pH violations every quarter (1997-2001): levels as low as 3.3 (battery acid)
• 800-gallon sulfuric acid spill (April 2001) directly into Stockton Harbor
• Unpermitted wastewater discharges from multiple outfalls
• Failed storm water pollution prevention plans
• No spill prevention/countermeasure plans despite proximity to harbor
• 77 documented spills (1983-2020), including 20 under GAC ownership

Settlement Terms:

• Treatment system installation required
• Federal oversight of operations
• No finding of guilt (settlement without admission)

Legal Significance: Establishes pattern of chronic violations, regulatory awareness, settlement without adequate remediation, and continuing contamination despite legal action.

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III. Causeway Impact: Circulation System Degradation (1969-1989)

Progressive Restriction Timeline

1958 Survey: Partial cobble accumulation from farmer dumping visible, some tidal exchange remains

1969 Survey: Substantial causeway development, circulation beginning to restrict during peak Northern Chemical operations

1975 Survey: Increased restriction during Delta Chemical contamination period, natural flushing capacity significantly reduced

1980 Survey: Near-complete restriction, harbor essentially functioning as enclosed basin

1989: Sears Island Causeway completed (solid fill connection), significant reduction of natural circulation

Documented Ecological Collapse (1992)

Lorin Hollander Editorial (Bangor Daily News, October 8, 1992)
21-year harbor resident and scuba diver documents dramatic post-causeway changes:

Physical System Breakdown:

• "Sand bars holding rocks and huge boulders... now totally exposed"
• "Nearly daily change" in bottom configuration
• "Sand pulled away from shoreline and reshaped" into unnatural formations
• 125-pound anchor dragged 250 feet by shifting sediments
• "Unnatural underwater embankments" with sharp depth changes

Current Pattern Chaos:

• "Strong currents" overriding wind patterns
• Boats pointing different directions due to chaotic water flow
• Dangerous cross-currents making navigation hazardous

Biological System Collapse:

• "Hundreds of thousands" of starfish (generally malformed) washing up dead
• "Mutations of small shrimp" abundant by millions
• Species displacement from normal habitats
• "End to lobster and fishing industry that used to flourish"

Key Quote: "Something is horribly wrong in Stockton Harbor"

Legal Significance: Eyewitness documentation of fundamental ecological disruption within 3 years of causeway completion. Establishes causation between infrastructure change and ecosystem collapse.

2023 Bathymetric Survey: Current Restricted System

Configuration:

• Sears Island Causeway completely restricts tidal exchange
• Single constricted exit pathway at harbor mouth
• Semi-enclosed basin with minimal natural flushing
• Depth patterns show modified circulation from historical baseline

Fluid Mud Transport Analysis:

Current Velocities (Fort Point Ledge Data):

• Flood currents: 1.1-1.3 knots
• Ebb currents: 0.8-1.1 knots
• Tidal cycle: ~6 hours between peaks

Transport Calculations:

• Distance GAC shoreline to harbor mouth: ~1.5-2.0 nautical miles
• Transport time during peak currents: 1-3 hours
• Contamination reaches regional Penobscot Bay waters within hours of erosional events

Legal Significance: Contamination from GAC site is not a localized problem but a regional threat affecting waters beyond municipal boundaries, strengthening case for coordinated municipal action and state intervention.

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IV. Current Contamination Evidence (2015-2025)

2015 Restoration Plan (Friends of Penobscot Bay)

Documented Issues:

• Bauxite tailings eroding from GAC bluffs into harbor
• Silver-gray aluminum-colored contaminated sediments
• Tarpaper roofing materials buried 6-12 inches in intertidal mud
• Far lower benthic invertebrate abundance near facility vs. control areas
• Maine DMR study confirming contamination extent (~1 acre visible contamination)

Proposed Actions:

• Core sampling to identify contamination extent
• Removal of contaminated sediments
• Removal of buried roofing materials
• Restoration of productive habitat

Legal Significance: Professional restoration plan documenting contamination and proposing remediation never implemented, demonstrating regulatory failure to address known problems.

2025 Professional Assessment (Home Place Team)

Comprehensive Site Investigation (April-June 2025):

Visual Evidence:

• 2,050 linear feet assessed across 18 shoreline sections
• Pink-colored sediment layers visible
• Reddish discharge residue near old outfall pipes
• Grey powdery substance in multiple locations
• Industrial debris in every assessed section

Laboratory Analysis Results:

Sediment Samples (10 collected):

• pH 2.67-5.09 (extremely acidic, battery acid levels)
• Aluminum: 190 to 100,000 mg/kg
• Sulfur: 120 to 120,000 mg/kg
• Mercury: 0.12 to 0.39 mg/kg

Building Materials (4 samples):

• Lead paint: 5,700 mg/kg on pipeline scaffolding
• PCBs: 3,300 ppm in green paint
• Asbestos: Detected in pipe wrap

Water Samples (2 collected):

• Aluminum: 0.1 mg/L
• Sulfur: 10 mg/L
• Trichloroethene: 3.1 ug/L
• pH: 7.3-7.5 (normal in runoff, indicating dilution of highly acidic source material)

Infrastructure Failure:

• Plastic liner exposure in failed riprap (connects to geomembrane contamination)
• Abandoned pipeline with lead paint and PCB contamination
• Railroad track erosion threatening active chemical transport infrastructure
• Industrial waste washing 50+ feet into intertidal areas

Public Health Risks Documented:

• Children observed collecting shells during assessment
• Woman with two dogs walking contaminated beach
• Elementary/middle school clam seeding programs planned near contamination
• No warning signage except "No Trespassing" on upland bluffs

Professional Recommendations:

• Comprehensive contamination assessment with soil borings
• Public safety signage installation
• Complete removal of loose industrial debris
• Living shoreline remediation (nature-based solutions)
• Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management

Legal Significance: Current professional assessment confirms active ongoing contamination release, immediate public health risks, infrastructure failure, and regulatory inadequacy. Establishes urgent need for municipal intervention.

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V. Legal Framework for Municipal Action

Maine Title 12 §573: Public Trust Rights in Intertidal Land

§573(1) - Protected Public Trust Rights:

(A) Fishing, fowling, and navigation

• Contaminated sediments make traditional fishing unsafe
• Historical shellfish productivity ("Essq") destroyed
• Navigation hazards from chaotic currents and shifting bottom

(B) Recreation

• Families and children exposed to toxic materials without warning
• Dog walking on contaminated sediments
• Educational programs endangered by unrestricted access

(C) Common law trust rights

• Centuries-old productive use systematically degraded
• Wabanaki cultural heritage and traditional harvesting grounds contaminated
• Public beneficial use eliminated by industrial contamination

§573(2) - Prohibited Activities:

(C) Depositing refuse or waste on intertidal land

• GAC's eroding industrial waste directly violates this prohibition
• Ongoing plastic geomembrane fragmentation = continuing violation
• Fluid mud contamination = prohibited waste deposition

§573(3) - Municipal Police Powers:

"Municipalities shall have jurisdiction to exercise their police powers to control public use of intertidal land, except where such exercise is superseded by any state law."

Analysis of "Supersession" Limitation:

State regulatory failure creates municipal necessity:

• "Superseded by state law" requires active, effective state enforcement
• Decades of documented contamination with minimal state action
• Federal lawsuits (1978, 2002) required to force any remedial measures
• No comprehensive state assessment or cleanup despite professional recommendations (2015, 2025)
• When state agencies abdicate enforcement responsibility, municipal authority becomes primary

Legal Precedent: Courts have consistently held that legislative grants of municipal police powers are construed broadly to protect public health and safety. Absent effective state enforcement, municipalities have both authority and duty to protect residents.

Municipal Standing and Responsibility

Both Searsport and Stockton Springs Have Clear Standing:

Searsport:

• GAC facility located within municipal boundaries
• Direct contamination of town's intertidal resources
• Public trust beneficiaries being actively harmed
• Property tax revenue from contaminating facility creates duty to protect public

Stockton Springs:

• Stockton Harbor contamination affects town waters
• Shared intertidal areas under public trust
• Citizens using contaminated areas for recreation/fishing
• Municipal name directly associated with contaminated harbor

Joint Action Advantages:

• Stronger legal position showing regional impact
• Shared costs for legal action and expert consultation
• Unified municipal voice carries greater weight with state agencies
• Demonstrates harm beyond single jurisdiction
• Coordinated public health protection measures

State Regulatory Failure Documentation

Pattern of Inadequate Enforcement:

1. 1974: Federal court documents Delta Chemical contamination, minimal state follow-up
2. 1983-2020: 77 spills documented in state database, inadequate prevention/remediation
3. 1997-2001: Chronic pH violations, state fails to take enforcement action
4. 2002: Federal lawsuit (CLF) required to force compliance, state agencies ineffective
5. 2015: Professional restoration plan identifies contamination, no state action
6. 2021: EPA Consent Agreement for Clean Air Act violations, state regulatory gaps
7. 2025: Professional assessment documents ongoing crisis, no state emergency response

Legal Significance: Systematic regulatory failure over 50+ years establishes that state "supersession" is theoretical, not actual. Municipal action is necessary to protect public trust rights that state agencies have failed to defend.

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VI. Contamination Transport Analysis: Regional Threat

Fluid Mud Generation and Mobility

Mechanism (Coastal Industrial Waste Landfill Erosion):

1. Storm Surge and Wave Action: Erodes fine-grained sediment containing industrial waste
2. Liquefaction: Powerful waves liquefy contaminated material into suspended fluid mud
3. Advection: Tidal currents transport fluid mud throughout estuary
4. Deposition: Fluid mud settles in sensitive habitats during slack tides

GAC Site Characteristics:

• Eroding bluffs containing century of industrial waste
• Plastic geomembranes fragmenting and releasing trapped contaminants
• pH 2.67 acidic materials actively destabilizing sediments
• Sea level rise exposing previously buried waste layers
• Climate change increasing storm frequency and intensity

Transport Time Calculations

Hydrodynamic Data (Fort Point Ledge):

• Flood current: 1.1-1.3 knots
• Ebb current: 0.8-1.1 knots
• Distance to harbor mouth: 1.5-2.0 nautical miles

Transport Times:

• Peak current conditions: 35-50 minutes to harbor mouth
• Moderate currents: 1-2 hours
• Multiple tidal cycles with settling/resuspension: 12-24 hours for complete harbor transit

Critical Finding: Contaminated fluid mud from GAC erosion reaches regional Penobscot Bay waters within 1-3 hours of major erosional events, making this a bay-wide contamination threat, not just a local Stockton Harbor problem.

Contaminant Characteristics

Chemical Contamination:

• Heavy metals: aluminum (100,000 mg/kg), mercury, lead
• Industrial chemicals: sulfuric acid residues, trichloroethene
• pH depression: Battery acid levels (2.67-5.09)

Physical Contamination:

• Plastic geomembranes (1970s-1980s vintage PVC and HDPE)
• Asbestos-containing materials
• PCB-contaminated paint (3,300 ppm)

Radioactive Contamination:

• Phosphogypsum waste from 1912-1970s phosphate processing
• Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) from Florida phosphate rock
• Unknown quantities disposed in eroding shoreline

Bioaccumulation Potential:

• Heavy metals concentrate in marine food web
• Microplastics ingested by filter feeders
• Regional fisheries and aquaculture threatened

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VII. Municipal Action Framework

Immediate Actions (0-30 Days)

Emergency Public Health Protection:

1. Warning Signage Installation
   • Visible markers at all public access points to GAC shoreline
   • Clear language: "Industrial Contamination - Avoid Contact"
   • Multi-lingual and pictographic for universal understanding
   • Municipal authority under §573(3) police powers
2. Public Health Advisories
   • Formal notice to residents about contamination risks
   • Coordinate with school districts on educational programs near site
   • Issue guidance on shellfish harvesting prohibition
   • Media outreach to ensure public awareness
3. Coordination with Regulatory Agencies
   • Formal notice to Maine DEP Commissioner
   • Request immediate site inspection and assessment
   • Notify EPA Region 1 of ongoing contamination
   • Request Maine CDC evaluation of public health risks

Legal Notice to GAC Chemical:

Formal demand letter requiring:

• Immediate cessation of contamination releases
• Emergency stabilization of eroding bluffs
• Comprehensive site assessment by independent professionals
• Public access restrictions and warning systems
• Timeline for permanent remediation plan

Joint Municipal Action (30-90 Days)

Legal Strategy Development:

1. Assertion of Municipal Jurisdiction
   • Joint resolution by both selectboards under Title 12 §573(3)
   • Formal claim of police powers over contaminated intertidal areas
   • Demand for restoration of public trust rights
2. Comprehensive Assessment Requirements
   • Independent professional contamination evaluation
   • Soil borings to determine depth and extent of contamination
   • Public health risk assessment for recreational and commercial uses
   • Baseline documentation for restoration planning
3. Coordinated Enforcement
   • Joint municipal complaint if GAC fails to respond adequately
   • Request for state Attorney General involvement
   • Consideration of citizen suit provisions under federal environmental laws
   • Coordination with Conservation Law Foundation or similar organizations

Potential Legal Theories:

• Public Trust Doctrine Violation: Systematic destruction of public beneficial use
• Public Nuisance: Ongoing contamination affecting public health and safety
• Continuing Trespass: Eroding waste material invading public trust intertidal areas
• Negligence: Failure to prevent foreseeable harm from industrial waste erosion
• Strict Liability: Abnormally dangerous activities (chemical manufacturing/waste disposal)

Long-Term Restoration (90+ Days)

Remediation Requirements:

1. Source Control
   • Complete removal of loose industrial debris from intertidal zone
   • Excavation or capping of contaminated bluff materials
   • Removal of failing infrastructure (pipelines, building materials)
   • Proper disposal of hazardous materials
2. Living Shoreline Implementation
   • Nature-based stabilization replacing failed riprap
   • Native vegetation establishment
   • Phytoremediation of contaminated soils
   • Climate-resilient design accommodating 6-foot sea level rise over 100 years
3. Habitat Restoration
   • Sediment cleanup to restore productive shellfish beds
   • Eelgrass and rockweed habitat reconstruction
   • Monitoring and adaptive management for ecosystem recovery
   • Return toward historical "Essq" productivity levels

Ongoing Municipal Oversight:

• Regular monitoring of cleanup progress
• Enforcement of restoration timelines
• Public access restoration as contamination is eliminated
• Long-term stewardship ensuring protection of public trust rights

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VIII. Expected Outcomes and Legal Precedent

Public Health Protection

Immediate Benefits:

• Warning systems protecting residents and visitors from exposure
• Reduction of acute contamination risks
• Public awareness enabling informed decision-making

Long-Term Benefits:

• Safe restoration of fishing, fowling, and navigation rights
• Educational and recreational access without health hazards
• Protection of vulnerable populations (children, pregnant women)

Environmental Restoration

Contamination Cleanup:

• Removal of century-old industrial waste
• Elimination of ongoing contamination sources
• Restoration of water quality to support marine life

Ecosystem Recovery:

• Return of productive shellfish beds
• Recovery of benthic invertebrate populations
• Restoration of natural food web from plankton to fish
• Reestablishment of commercial fishery potential

Climate Resilience:

• Nature-based shoreline stabilization
• Adaptive capacity for sea level rise
• Storm surge protection through natural systems

Legal Precedent Establishment

Municipal Authority:

• First documented use of Title 12 §573(3) police powers for contamination enforcement
• Establishes municipal standing for public trust protection
• Demonstrates local authority when state enforcement fails

Corporate Accountability:

• Successor liability for inherited contamination
• Duty to remediate legacy industrial impacts
• Ongoing monitoring and prevention obligations

Regional Significance:

• Model for other coastal communities facing industrial contamination
• Framework for public trust enforcement in Maine
• Template for addressing climate change impacts on coastal landfills

Economic Benefits

Property Values:

• Restored harbor increasing waterfront property values
• Removal of contamination stigma from community

Tourism and Recreation:

• Safe public access supporting local economy
• Restoration of fishing and recreational boating
• Educational tourism around restoration success

Fisheries:

• Recovery of shellfish harvesting areas
• Support for traditional and commercial fishing
• Aquaculture development potential

Municipal Liability Reduction:

• Elimination of public exposure to known hazards
• Protection from citizen injury claims
• Fulfillment of public trust responsibilities

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IX. Conclusion and Recommendations

Summary of Legal Position

Strong Municipal Standing:

• Both Searsport and Stockton Springs have clear authority under Title 12 §573
• Public trust rights systematically violated for over a century
• Current acute public health risks requiring immediate intervention
• State regulatory failure creates municipal necessity

Compelling Evidence:

• 140+ years of bathymetric documentation showing natural baseline and industrial transformation
• Federal court precedent establishing corporate liability (1978, 2002)
• Professional environmental assessments confirming ongoing contamination (2015, 2025)
• Scientific analysis demonstrating regional contamination threat

Urgent Necessity:

• Active contamination transport to regional waters
• Unrestricted public access to hazardous materials
• Climate change accelerating waste erosion
• Failing infrastructure threatening catastrophic releases

Recommended Legal Strategy

Phase 1: Emergency Protective Measures

• Immediate public health protection under police powers
• Formal demand to GAC Chemical for emergency response
• Coordination with state/federal agencies

Phase 2: Joint Municipal Action

• Coordinated assertion of jurisdiction by both towns
• Comprehensive independent assessment requirements
• Enforcement proceedings if voluntary compliance fails

Phase 3: Long-Term Restoration

• Court-supervised remediation if necessary
• Living shoreline implementation and monitoring
• Restoration of public trust beneficial uses

Historical and Cultural Context

This case involves more than environmental contamination—it represents the desecration of sacred geography. The Wabanaki people's "Essq" (Great Shellfish Bay) sustained communities for centuries before industrial development systematically destroyed its productivity.

The historical bathymetric record demonstrates that restoration is not speculative but achievable: the harbor maintained stable, productive conditions for documented decades (1882-1911) and likely for centuries before. Municipal action to restore public trust rights serves both legal obligations and cultural healing.

Call to Action

Maine's municipalities have both the legal authority and moral responsibility to protect public trust rights in their intertidal areas. When state agencies fail to enforce environmental protections, local governments must act to protect their residents and restore the natural heritage that defines coastal Maine communities.

The question is not whether Searsport and Stockton Springs have the authority to act—Title 12 §573 provides clear jurisdiction. The question is whether they will fulfill their responsibility to protect public health, restore environmental integrity, and honor the legacy of "Essq" for future generations.

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Appendices

A. Referenced Legal Documents

• Bangor & AR Co. v. Ship Fernview, 455 F. Supp. 1043 (D. Me. 1978)
• Conservation Law Foundation v. GAC Chemical (2002)     CLF/GAC Settlement 
• Maine Title 12 §573 - Public Trust Rights in Intertidal Land
• EPA Consent Agreement (2021) - Clean Air Act violations

B. Professional Assessments

• Friends of Penobscot Bay Restoration Plan (2015)
• Home Place Team Environmental Assessment (2025)
• Maine DMR Contamination Study (1998)

C. Historical Documentation

• Bathymetric Charts (1882, 1889, 1902, 1911, 1958, 1969, 1975, 1980, 2023)
• Industrial Operations Records (1950, 1955, 1965)
• Lorin Hollander Editorial (1992)
• Corporate History Documentation (GAC Chemical, Delta Chemical, Northern Chemical, Summers Fertilizer)

D. Scientific Analysis

• Fluid Mud Transport Calculations
• Geomembrane Chronology (1933-1980s)
• Current Flow Data (NOAA, USGS)
• Contamination Chemistry Results (2025)

E. Cultural and Historical Context

• Wabanaki Heritage: Arlurmesic and Essq
• S.S. Millinocket Phosphate Transport Documentation (1912)
• Sears Island Causeway History (1989)

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Document Prepared By: Environmental Advocate Ron Huber
For: Legal Counsel Review and Municipal Action Planning
Contact: Penobscot Bay Watch

This briefing document synthesizes over a century of environmental documentation, legal precedent, and scientific analysis to support municipal action protecting public trust rights in Stockton Harbor. All facts are supported by primary source documentation available for legal proceedings.

Maine Fishermens Forum 2026 Seminar Descriptions

Maine Fishermen's Forum March 5-7, 2026. 

THURSDAY SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
Shellfish Advisory Council Updates and Priorities Discussion

This session will feature updates on recent priorities and initiatives from the Shellfish Advisory Council (ShAC) and partners. Topics will include a primer on the composition of the ShAC and how it operates, an overview of recent accomplishments, results from an economic impact study of the shellfish industry, safety and emergency response considerations and resources, and issues surrounding shellfish enforcement. Each panelist will provide a brief presentation followed by a facilitated discussion with the audience to seek input on current and future priorities for the ShAC.

Host: Jessica Gribbon Joyce

Moderator:  Marissa McMahan, Senior Director of Fisheries, Manomet Conservation Sciences & Vice Chair, ShAC

Panelists: Jessica Gribbon Joyce, Program Manager, Local Catch Network & Former Chair, ShAC

Jeff Auger, Vice President of US Farming Operations, Atlantic Aquafarms & ShAC Aquaculture Representative

Tora Johnson, Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Director, Sunrise County Economic Council & ShAC Public Representative

Kanae Tokunaga, Senior Scientist, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Ben Cotton, Research Associate, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Michael Boucher, Frenchmen’s Bay Regional Conservation Shellfish Warden

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Camden Room)
Real-World Electrification on the Working Waterfront

This panel brings together Maine shellfish farmers and marine operators who are actively electrifying their daily operations—and learning what works through hands-on experience. Panelists will share practical insights from deploying electric and solar-powered equipment on working waterfronts, including electric work boats, solar-powered oyster barges and work floats, battery-powered winches, electric hydraulic systems, work trucks, and off-grid refrigeration. These early adopters are demonstrating uses of marine electrification that will have relevance and benefits to the commercial fishing industry.

Panelists include Abby Barrows (Deer Isle Oyster Company), Max Burtis (Bombazine Oysters), Chad Strater (The Boat Yard), Willy Leathers (Maine Ocean Farms), Stuart Ryan (Love Point Oysters), and Alicia Gaeiro (Nauti Sisters Sea Farm). Together, they represent a range of approaches—from DIY systems to fully engineered commercial solutions—showing how electrification can be adapted to farms of all sizes, budgets, and operational needs.

The discussion will focus on why these operators chose to electrify, how the systems perform in real working conditions, lessons learned during design and deployment, and where electrification delivers the greatest operational and economic value. Time will be reserved for audience participation, including discussion and a practical framework to help attendees identify electrification opportunities within their own operations and begin building a case for transitioning away from fossil-fuel-powered equipment.

This session is designed for fishermen, farmers, and marine businesses interested in proven, practical pathways to cleaner, quieter, and more resilient waterfront operations.

Host:

Nate Johnson

Moderator:

Nick Planson, Founder & CEO, Shred Electric

Panelists:
Abby Barrows, Owner and Marine Scientist, Deer Isle Oyster Company

Max Burtis, Co-Owner, Bombazine Oysters

Chad Strater, Owner, The Boat Yard

Willy Leathers, Co-Owner / Director of Farm Operations, Maine Ocean Farms

Stuart Ryan, Farm Manager, Love Point Oysters

Alicia Gaiero, Founder, Nauti Sisters Sea Farm

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. (Camden Room)
The Latest on Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Populations and US Quota Shares 

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), of which the United    States is a member by treaty, met in November for its annual meeting to set new total allowable catches (TACs) for bluefin tuna and addressed additional matters related to other tunas, billfishes and pelagic sharks. Based on genetic data, ICCAT manages bluefin tuna as two stocks, a western and eastern stock. Based on the ICCAT-adopted science-to-management process (“management procedure”), the eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna TAC was expected to be reduced.  However, the United States built upon more than a decade of scientific data collected by western Atlantic bluefin fishing nations to provide a science-based justification to increase rather than decrease the western Atlantic bluefin tuna TAC.  This was the result of rigorous negotiations that resulted in a net quota increase of 17% for the United States.   Eastern Atlantic bluefin fishing nations also procured a substantial TAC increase.

This seminar will provide the latest on the status of the Atlantic bluefin tuna resource (including how fishermen’s cooperative research is directly improving scientific understanding of stock dynamics), an explanation of how  ICCAT allocates  quota, and steps the Administration is taking to address this imbalance and advance US fishermen’s interests.

Host: Nate Johnson

Moderator: Nate Johnson, Shearwater Ventures, F/V Nattie J, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Panelists: Drew Lawler, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for NOAA International Fisheries and the US head of delegation to ICCAT.

Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator

Walt Golet, Associate Professor UMaine School of Marine Sciences; Director UMaine Pelagic Fisheries Lab and Chair of the US ICCAT Advisory Committee

Mike Pierdinock, charter boat fisherman, advisor to the NMFS Atlantic HMS Advisory Panel and the New England Fisheries Management Council representative to the US ICCAT Advisory Committee.

Capt. Pete Speeches, F/V Erin & Sarah

10:35 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
Reframing the European Green Crab: Challenge to Opportunity  

As ocean temperatures rise, the invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) has expanded across New England, increasing ecological and economic pressures on coastal ecosystems and commercial fisheries. At the same time, growing interest among harvesters, aqua culturists, chefs, and the seafood industry is driving efforts to develop fisheries and markets for this largely untapped resource.

This seminar will offer a brief State of the Industry overview, highlighting key challenges and opportunities. Topics include green crab economics, existing and emerging markets, revenue potential and break-even considerations, regulatory pathways, and value-added opportunities for product innovation and multicultural markets. A panel of experts will share current insights and spark discussion around next steps and emerging ideas.

Host: Dianne Tilton

Moderators: Dr. Marissa McMahan, Senior Director of Fisheries, Manomet

Dr. Hillary Smith, Assistant Research Professor, University of Maine

Panelists: Dr. Gabriela Bradt, Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Specialist, NH Sea Grant

Mary Parks, Executive Director, greencrab.org

Mike Masi, Owner, Shell & Claw

John Painter, Owner, Maine Green Crabs

Liam Fischer, Owner, Maine Garum Co.

Marpheen Chann, Executive Director, Khmer Maine

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
Statewide Soft-Shell Clam Recruitment Monitoring Network

The Soft-Shell Clam Recruitment Monitoring Network, launched in 2020 by the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) and Downeast Institute (DEI), tracks the long-term decline in Maine’s commercial soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) landings amid, climate stressors, habitat shifts, and predation. Each spring, prior to the time of clam spawning, we deploy passive collectors at two intertidal flats per community across 11-12 sites from Wells to Sipayik—spanning southwestern, Midcoast, and Downeast regions. These collect settling larvae, revealing recruitment potential.  In fall, collectors are retrieved, and contents washed through sieves with 1-mm apertures to quantify juvenile densities. Paired bottom core samples from adjacent areas on each flat enable us to compare settler survival against predation (e.g., green crabs) and other mortality, linking potential stock to fishery yields. This dual approach yields robust indices of recruitment success and bottlenecks. This talk presents 2025 results alongside 2020-2024 trends, highlighting spatial variability, interannual fluctuations, and correlations with environmental drivers like temperature and predator abundance. Findings are intended to inform clam management, restoration strategies, and harvester decisions, supporting our second most valuable fishery ($15.5 million in 2024) behind lobster.

Host: Dianne Tilton, Maine Fishermen’s Foru, Board of Directors

Moderator: Brian Beal, Professor of Marine Ecology, University of Maine at Machias and Director of Research, Downeast Institute

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Camden Room)
Safety Preparedness for Fishermen

The safety of fishermen and their vessels can be significantly improved through advanced preparation and training.  This session will feature firsthand accounts from fishermen who have experienced serious safety challenges and those who have completed safety training. Participants will gain valuable insights into available safety training programs, equipment maintenance services, emergency preparedness, life jackets, and first aid techniques.

Host: Jen Levin

Moderator: Dan Orchard, Executive Vice President, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Panelists: John Roberts, Vice President of Safety Training, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Liz Michaud, President, Green and White Hope

Pat Shepard, Co-Owner, REDDE Marine

Shannon Eldredge, First Aid Program Coordinator, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Tim Barrett, Captain, F/V Odessa

Ward Byrne, Captain, F/V Sugar Daddy

Captain Clint Prindle, USCG Northeast District, Chief of Staff

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
Shellfish Focus Day Poster and Networking Session

This informal session will allow time for Shellfish Focus Day attendees to network with harvesters, scientists, managers, municipal staff, and others working or volunteering in the shellfish community. There will also be posters and tables with gear demonstrations highlighting current research, monitoring, and technology. Attendees will be able to walk around to learn about these projects, socialize with others in the shellfish community, and connect with speakers and panelists who presented earlier in the agenda.

Concurrently, Maine DMR will host an interpretive booth during the poster session. DMR staff will demonstrate how to build a survey quadrat box and sift and measure clam seed and distribute one-page guides on these and other shellfish management tools. This is directed toward municipal shellfish officials and public members who wish to participate in municipal shellfish management. DMR will also provide free survey quadrat materials for municipal shellfish staff wishing to build one for use in their town.

This informal session will allow time for Shellfish Focus Day attendees to network with harvesters, scientists, managers, municipal staff, and others working or volunteering in the shellfish community. There will also be posters and tables with gear demonstrations highlighting current research, monitoring, and technology. Attendees will be able to walk around to learn about these projects, socialize with others in the shellfish community, and connect with speakers and panelists who presented earlier in the agenda.

Host: Jessica Joyce

Moderator: Marissa McMahan, Senior Director of Fisheries, Manomet Conservation Sciences

Panelists:  Emily Stone, Brunswick Coastal Resources

John Fisher, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Tora Johnson, Sunrise County Economic Council

Jonathan Labaree, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Helena Tatgenhorst, The Nature Conservancy

Ash Oh, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Jessie Batchelder, Manomet Conservation Sciences

Ben Wahle, Maine DMR Nearshore Marine Resources

Ben Cotton, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Kanae Tokunaga, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Annie Fagan, Maine Sea Grant

Liam Fisher, Maine Garum Company

Hannah Wolf, Colby College

Gabriela Bradt, New Hampshire Sea Grant

2:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Camden Room)
Improving Safety for Single-handed Fishermen

The Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council, a volunteer council, established by the Maine legislature and supported by the Department of Marine Resources, is pleased to sponsor this workshop. In Maine, single-handed fishing takes place in the clamming and lobstering fisheries. Being alone in the coastal flats or offshore, whether hand-harvesting or fishing from skiff or boat, can be life-threatening.  We have assembled a panel of individuals who have first-hand experience with the challenges of single-handed fishing or knowledge related to training, self-rescue, electronic and non- electronic equipment, and communication. Through case studies or scenarios, brief presentations and audience participation, we will address single-handed fishing issues and focus on strategies for improving the safety of single-handed fishing. During the session we will raffle off several safety items. Single-handed fishermen we welcome you! Please join us and add your voice to the discussions.

Host: Jen Levin

Moderator:
Sgt. Mark Murry, Maine Marine Patrol, Division II Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

Panelists:
Liz Michaud, Founder/President, Green and White Hope, Inc.

Chris Harrison, Safety Specialist, Chase, Leavitt & Co.

Josh Duym, co-owner, REDDE Marine Safety

Ann Backus, Instructor in Occupational Health, and Secretary, Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

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FRIDAY SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
MLA Annual Meeting

Join the MLA for its 72nd Annual Meeting. The meeting topics will include looking back on the challenges and progress of Maine’s lobster industry in 2025 and looking forward to the policy landscape in 2026. Audience questions and comments are always encouraged. MLA is still considering options for our keynote speaker and panelists, but we plan to offer an informative session that addresses the issues that are important to Maine’s lobster industry, commercial fishermen and our coastal communities.

Host: Katie Werner, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Patrice McCarron, Executive Director Maine Lobstermen’s Association

Panelists: in progress

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Golf Club)
Regional Compensation Fund for Offshore Wind: Update & Engagement Session

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to give fishing community members, for-hire operators, and other stakeholders a direct voice in shaping the emerging regional claims process for offshore wind fisheries compensation. After a year of work with the Design Oversight Committee (DOC) and partners across the East Coast, the Regional Fund Administrator (RFA) will share a brief update and walk through key design questions. Your insights, experience, and feedback are essential to building a compensation claims process to offset potential losses and/or costs from offshore wind development that is responsive to the needs of fishing communities. This session is a chance for you to tell us what will make this program fair, workable, and reflective of the realities in your fishery and port. Please join us and help guide the next phase of this important effort that is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2026.

Host: Sheila Dassatt

Moderators: Laura Singer, Principal, SAMBAS Consulting LLC

Panelists: Deirdre Boelke, Principal, Fisheries Insight Network LLC

Vincent Balzano, Owner F/V Northern Lights, member of DOC

Erin Wilkinson, Policy Coordinator, Maine DMR, member of DOC

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Camden Room)
January 2024 Coastal Flooding, Bad Luck or Things to Come?

This session will provide a detailed review of the meteorological factors that lead to major coastal flood events.  Coastal flooding poses an existential threat to Maine’s fishing and aquaculture community, and the back-to-back storms in January 2024 highlighted the vulnerability of our low-lying coastal infrastructure.

We will discuss what “Coastal Flood Alignment” means in the Gulf of Maine and how this phenomenon created near-perfect storm conditions in January 2024.  We will also briefly cover the scientific predictability of increased “Sou’Easter” storms of similar magnitude. We will conclude with a review of current coastal flood resources and predictions that the community can use to help mitigate impacts from future events.

Host: Tom Duym

Moderator: Donny Dumont, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service, Gray/Portland Maine Forecast Office

Panelists: Hannah Baranes, Ph.D, Coastal Scientists, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Rockport Room)
Maine Lobster Marketing Annual Report

In its annual presentation to the industry, Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative will share results from the 2025 marketing program and exciting plans to increase demand for Maine Lobster in 2026.  Panelists will provide information on all elements of the marketing program including social media, public relations, events, issues management, and special projects.  Audience members will have ample opportunity to ask questions about the program.

Host: Katie Werner, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Marianne LaCroix, executive director Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative

Panelists:Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director, MLMC

Brian Langley, Chair, MLMC Board of Directors; Owner, Union River Lobster Pot

Amy Tessendorf, Senior VP, Weber Shandwick

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Rockland Room)
Eastern Maine Skippers Program Student Project Posters

Eastern Maine Skippers Program students will present their research and findings in reference to their passion projects. This seminar will highlight projects and feature posters that detail specific learning relative to EMSP projects focused on; regulations, green crab fertilizer and culinary arts, aquaponics, cod coils for ground fish, sea water temperature changes and lobster catch in the Gulf of Maine and its effects, micro-plastics, aquaculture and raising oysters in the Union River, career research specifically the in the U.S. Coast Guard. We will also have Drill Conductor videos available for viewing. This seminar will provide opportunities for a dialogue and critical feedback between the students, fishermen and those that work within the marine industry. This valuable insight and knowledge will help guide and advance individual student projects for critical feedback that will help them further their investigations. This venue provides the perfect atmosphere for collegiality among the Skippers schools from Knox, Hancock and Washington counties.

Host: Tom Duym, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Thomas Duym, Fisheries Education Specialist, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries

Panelists: Eastern Maine Skippers Program 2026 schools included:
Deer Isle-Stonington High School, Ellsworth High School, George Stevens Academy, Jonesport Beals High School, North Haven Community School.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Golf Club)
Funding, Tools, and Programs for Maine’s Working Waterfronts

Working waterfronts face a number of challenges ranging from storms to economic change, and yet, they provide critical infrastructure for the longevity of our coastal communities. The Maine Working Waterfront Coalition will host a session to provide attendees with a growing number of tools and programs available to fund, preserve, expand, and shore up Maine’s public and private working waterfronts.

The session will include an overview of available financial support tools for communities and working waterfront businesses as well as updates on work happening in the state to understand challenges facing our coast, develop new tools and programs, and meet the needs of the industry. Municipal officials, waterfront businesses, and members of the Coalition – including but not limited to Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Hancock County Planning Commission, Island Institute, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Maine Coastal Program, Sunrise County Economic Council, and the Town of Stonington – will present stories and examples of successful working waterfront protection and resilience efforts.

Presentations and Q&A will be followed by an opportunity to mingle, network, ask further questions of specific presenters and Coalition members, and provide written input to help the Maine Working Waterfront Coalition set priority actions for the future.

Host: Jacob Bowie

Moderator:Nick Battista, Chair, Maine Working Waterfront Coalition; Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, Island Institute

Panelists:John Church, Harbormaster, Town of Jonesport

Jessica Gribbon Joyce, Program Manager, Local Catch Network; Former Principal, Tidal Bay Consulting

Rob Leavitt, Harbormaster, Town of Southwest Harbor

Sierra Millay, Resource Manag

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Rockport Room)
Maine DMR Lobster Science Update

Over 80% of American lobster landings in the US come from Maine lobster boats fishing across the coast. The Maine DMR Lobster Monitoring and Research Program collects demographic data on the Gulf of Maine lobster population at different life stages through multiple long-term monitoring surveys including the Landings Program, Settlement Survey, Inshore Trawl Survey, Commercial At-Sea Sampling, Ventless Trap Survey, and Larval Survey. These data are used in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission American Lobster Stock Assessment to inform the management of this valuable fishery. Maine DMR staff will provide the annual update of all monitoring programs, new research including the Fishery Directed Data survey, and discuss trends over time. The Division of Marine Mammal Research will provide an update on North Atlantic right whale research.

Host: Melissa Smith

Moderator: Kathleen Reardon, Lobster Fishery Scientist Maine DMR

Panelists: Marissa DeCosta, Landings Scientist, Maine DMR
Robert Russell, Lead of Settlement Survey, Maine DMR

Heather Glon, Lobster Research Scientist, Maine DMR

Kristyn Kleman, Lead of Commercial Sea Sampling and Ventless Trap Survey, Maine DMR

Nathan Willse, Tracker Research Lead, Maine DMR

Robyn Linner, Lead of Inshore Trawl Survey, Maine DMR

Sarah Leiter, Maine DMR

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Rockland Room)
Co-Developing Strategies for a Changing NGOM Scallop Fishery

Atlantic sea scallop habitat is changing as New England waters warm, freshen, acidify, and become lower in oxygen. The Gulf of Maine is already experiencing these changes. At the same time, the sea scallop fishery, including in the Gulf of Maine, has steadily increased in value over recent decades. The growing reliance on these fishery and geographical shifts in landings requires stakeholders and managers to work together to develop management strategies that address these regional changes. This seminar is one of a series of interactive workshops we are hosting in fishing communities from Maine to New Jersey. We present regional oceanographic information, including a regional projection of changes in sea scallop fishing zones alongside seasonal forecasts, incorporating variables based on fishermen’s recommendations. We also discuss current research on how scallops respond to these ocean changes. The objectives of this workshop are to discuss with Maine scallopers the changes they are observing in the fishery, to learn what they think would best improve the fishery’s resilience moving forward, and to co-develop strategies to adapt to potential future changes. Through scenario discussions, the roles of closures and management-area changes informed by projected and forecasted ocean conditions are explored in the context of past industry adaptation strategies. The results from this workshop will support the co-development of adaptive management recommendations and inform our ongoing research. These actions may increase flexibility in the management process, which is necessary for the fishery to build climate resilience.

Host: Togue Brawn

Moderator: Susan Inglis, Senior Research Associate, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation

Panelists: Samantha Siedlecki, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut

Halle Berger, Ph.D. Student, University of Connecticut

Shannon Meseck, Chief of the Aquaculture Systems & Ecology Branch at Milford Lab, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Jim LaChance, Visiting Professor, University of Maryland

Robert Murphy, Social Scientist, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Golf Club)
Aquaculture CTE: Students meet the working Waterfront

Launching in the fall of 2025, an Aquaculture CTE program was launched at Waldo County Technical Center. Ms. Black, Mrs. Bradley, and their students are excited to share all of their success and learning opportunities thus far with the working waterfront community. Students will share about our kelp farm, our field trips, the skills we have, and the fun we have had together during our inaugural year!

Host: Sebastian Belle

Moderator: Genevieve Black, Aquaculture Instructor Waldo County Technical Center

Panelists: Jackson Horton, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

Ambrose Whitney, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

Jay Swimm, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

Luke Littlefield, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

Jaiden Schute, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

Adam Robson, Student, Waldo County Technical Center

2:45 p.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Rockport Room)
Open Forum with Federal Fisheries Leadership

Please join us for the opportunity to meet and converse with leadership of federal fisheries management.

Host: Suzannah Raber

Moderator: Maggie Raymond

Panelists: Eugenio Piñeiro Soler – NOAA Fisheries’ Assistant Administrator

Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

Jon Hare, Science and Research Director, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Cate O’Keefe, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council

Dan Salerno, Chairman, New England Fishery Management Council

2:45 p.m.- 4:15 p.m. (Rockland Room)
2026 Outlook for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Fishery

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) proposes a seminar to update stakeholders on key developments affecting the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) scallop fishery, with a focus on Framework Adjustment 40, anticipated changes for fishing year 2026, and emerging Council priorities aimed at balancing opportunity and sustainability.

Framework 40 includes updated catch limits for the 2026 NGOM scallop fishing year, and default measures of 2027. These measures are designed to ensure the long-term conservation of the resource, given the recent growth of the NGOM fishery and resulting effort on Stellwagen Bank. The seminar will cover an overview of the 2025 NGOM season as well as the outlook for the NGOM scallop resource in federal waters in 2026 and the updated catch limits set under Framework 40.

A focus of the session will be the Council’s 2026 work priorities, which will consider subdividing the NGOM management area into sub-areas. This spatial refinement is intended to support management of the Stellwagen Bank scallop resource while expanding fishing opportunities throughout the rest of the NGOM. Staff from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Office of Law Enforcement will be available to address questions regarding federal scallop regulations or enforcement issues.

The seminar aims to offer attendees an understanding of what to expect in 2026, how to engage with the NEFMC on upcoming management actions, and how to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the NGOM scallop fishery.

Host: Melissa Smith

Moderator: Melissa Smith, Resource Management Coordinator Maine DMR

Panelists: Connor Buckley, Scallop Plan Coordinator, New England Fishery Management Council

Chandler Nelson, Fishery Specialist, New England Fishery Management Council

Melanie Griffin, Scallop Committee Chair, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Emily Keiley, Fishery Policy Analyst, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NOAA Fisheries

Jason Berthiaume, Enforcement Officer, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Golf Club)
Roundtable for Maine Fishing Co-ops

The second annual Co-op Roundtable is an invitational meeting for all lobster co-op managers, bookkeepers, members and other interested representatives involved in the operations of Maine fishing co-ops. The goal of this session is to have an informal discussion about a variety of topics and to form a supportive network across the state to support continuous communication. Topics of discussion may include but are not limited to: labor, bait, pricing, regulations, and facilities maintenance. Leading up to the Fishermen’s Forum, invitations will be sent to each co-op with an opportunity to share topics they are interested in covering. This is an open meeting for co-op members, managers, bookkeepers and staff, and other interested members of the public.

Host: Michelle Brown, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Roxanne Tolman, Finance Manager Vinalhaven Fisherman’s Co-op

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Golf Club)
MLA Social Hour at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum

The MLA hosts its 2nd MLA Social Hour to focus on engaging members and colleagues in Maine’s fishing community to promote camaraderie and showcase MLA’s work in a relaxed atmosphere.

Host: Katie Werner, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Patrice McCarron, Executive Director Maine Lobstermen’s Association

Panelists: Patrice McCarron, Executive Director, Maine Lobstermen’s Association

Jaroy Bray, Board Chairman, Maine Lobstermen’s Association

Board and Staff, Maine Lobstermen’s Association

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SATURDAY SEMINARS  DESCRIPTIONS

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Rockport Room)
Marketing Maine’s Seafood: Insights and Strategies

This session will share updates and next steps from year two of the Maine Seafood Promotional Council, along with a first look at the Council’s marketing strategy rooted in data and expert insight. Formed in 2024, the Maine Seafood Promotional Council is an industry-led initiative working to strengthen collaboration across Maine’s seafood sector and to collectively promote Maine seafood through coordinated messaging, branding, and outreach. Attendees will gain insight into how this shared strategy supports producers, harvesters, and processors by amplifying Maine seafood’s value and market presence.

The session will also feature an update from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association on their Sea to School efforts. This work focuses on strengthening and expanding markets for local seafood while helping K–12 schools’ access New England’s most abundant local protein. Presenters will discuss practical, scalable solutions that connect seafood producers with school nutrition professionals, educators, and students, supporting local supply chains and cultivating the next generation of seafood consumers.

Hosts: Togue Brawn

Moderator: Togue Brawn, Co-Chair Seafood Promotional Council

Panelists: Emily Lane, Seafood Promotional Council, Co-Chair

Tyler Niven, Seafood Promotional Council, Member

Chris Bonacci, Account Director and Vice President, Marketing, Ethos Marketing & Design

Sophie Scott, Sustainable Seafood Program Manager, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Susan Olcott, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Rockland Room)
Navigating Safety, Stress, and Strength at Sea

Commercial fishing is physically demanding, mentally taxing, and often isolating. Together, these pressures contribute to allostatic load – the buildup of stress that wears down the body and mind over time. This interactive session offers fishermen practical, hands-on strategies to reduce that load while improving day-to-day safety and long-term resilience.

Participants will rotate through three engaging stations, each led by safety, health, and well-being experts.

• Musculoskeletal Health & Recovery: Hands-on demonstrations of mobility and recovery exercises tailored to repetitive strain injuries common in fishing.
• Stress & Allostatic Load: Nutrition and coping strategies to sustain energy, stabilize mood, and counter fatigue at sea.
• Emergency Readiness: Survival & Endurance Challenge: A live demonstration of “tactical athleticism” in action. An FPSS instructor will wear a survival suit under normal conditions, then repeat the task after brief exertion to simulate fatigue. The team will engage participants in the readiness challenge and discuss how mobility, balance, and recovery can be the difference between life and death in an emergency.

By blending health, safety, and preparedness, this seminar gives fishermen actionable tools to build strength, manage stress, and improve readiness on and off the water.

Host: Jessica Joyce

Moderator: Mandy Roome, Research Investigator Northeast Center for Occupational Health & Safety

Panelists: John Roberts, Vice President, Safety Training, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Russell Kingman, Project Officer, Safety, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Shannon Eldredge, Safety Instructor/First Aid Program Coordinator, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Monique Coombs, Director of Community Programs, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association

Toni Small, Yoga Instructor, Fish Ability

Michael Heinle, Research Assistant, Northeast Center for Occupational Health & Safety

Kim Gertz, Research Coordinator, Northeast Center for Occupational Health & Safety

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Camden Room)
Fishermen Informed Research

Hosted by the Lobster Institute, this panel brings fishermen and researchers together to co-present five collaborative projects addressing long-standing questions across the lobster industry. Presentations will include updates on hatchery and larval-seeding initiatives at Homarus Inc. in Shediac, New Brunswick; the expansion of deep-water settlement collectors to better understand shifts in where post larval lobsters settle; and ongoing seafloor monitoring through eMOLT (Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps), now growing in both geographic and ecological scope with the participation of dozens of fishermen. The panel will also highlight a tagging study aimed at understanding connectivity among lobster stocks, as well as research documenting how fishermen are adapting their strategies in response to ecological change in the Gulf of Maine. Designed as an interactive discussion, this session invites attendees to bring questions, insights, and ideas to the conversation.

Host:Gayle Zydlewski

Moderators: Chris Cash, Executive Director, Lobster Institute

Chris Brehme, Project Director, Lobster Institute

Panelists: Louis Ferguson, Assistant Director, Science and Resource Development, Homarus Inc.

Curt Brown, Captain, F/V Lil’ More Tail, President, Bold Coast Seafood and Andrew Goode, Post-Doc, UMaine

Joshua Miller, Captain, F/V Bella Elena and Erin Pelletier, Executive Director, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Rob Martin, Captain, F/V Resolve and Everett Rzeszowski, Post-Doc, UMaine

Matt Gilley, Captain, F/V Catherine G

Joelle Kilchenmann, PhD Candidate & Research Assistant, UMaine

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. (Golf Club)
Maine Elver Fishermen’s Association

This seminar offers Maine’s elver harvesters and industry partners with key updates for the 2026 season. Attendees will receive an overview of anticipated regulatory changes and management considerations to support preparation and compliance. The session includes an update on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listing status for American eel, outlining recent discussions and potential implications for harvest and export activities. Presenters will also share findings from the latest eel life cycle study, offering insights into migration and population health. In addition, the seminar will highlight ongoing aquaculture developments in Maine that may complement or intersect with the elver industry.

Host: Alison Billings

Moderator:Tim LaRochelle, President MEFA Maine Elver Fishermen’s Association

Panelists:Megan Ware, Director of External Affairs, DMR

Jason Bartlett, Marine Resource Scientist, DMR

Mitchell Feigenbaum, META/NOVA eel

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Rockport Room)
Community Readiness to Save Lives

Join us for an essential educational session on enhancing safety and response in the commercial fishing industry. Did you know that commercial fishing is 40 times more fatal than the average U.S. profession? In the event of an incident or injury, the speed of response and survival aids are crucial. When the community hears of a potential incident, they are often the first to gather, eager to help, while authorities may be hours away. Through community planning, volunteers can quickly and safely support official response efforts, potentially saving lives.

This session will present insights from the “Community Orchestration Guide,” developed through extensive research and interviews with 16 organizations experienced in marine search, rescue, and recovery, including families who have faced losses. Attendees will hear precautionary options for fishermen and best practices to help every Maine harbor community create a tailored emergency response plan that complements protocols of the U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Marine Patrol, etc. We’ll also share exciting information about a Maine Sea Grant award to Green and White Hope Inc that will enable two Maine harbors to pilot the guide and to document their community readiness plans and process. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference in your community and get access to the digital toolkit!

Host: Sebastian Belle

Moderator: Ann Backus, Secretary, Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

Panelists: Liz Michaud, Founder/President, Green and White Hope Inc.

Annie Sokoloski, Policy Literacy & Working-Waterfront Advocate, Voices of the Fleet™

John Roberts, Vice President Safety Training, Fishing Partnership Support Services

Monique Coombs, Director of Community Programs, Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association

Amanda Smith, Coastal Opportunities Advisor, Sunrise County Economic Council

Kim Gertz, Research Coordinator, NEC

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Rockland Room)
From Idea to Market: Supporting Ireland’s Marine Enterprises

Fishermen and coastal communities face growing pressures from climate change, regulatory shifts, market volatility, and the challenge of succession planning. Many have strong business ideas but struggle to move from concept to reality. This session explores Ireland’s approach to supporting marine entrepreneurs through structured feasibility funding that helps assess and de-risk ideas before major investment.

Drawing on experience from Nua Mara and Údarás na Gaeltachta, we will share practical Irish case studies. These include the Connemara Shellfish Co-Operative, where 88 fishermen turned starfish predators into a valuable aquafeed product; innovations in seaweed-based bioplastics; and a marine testing facility that grew from one redundant worker to 191 employees, with a further 140 jobs planned.

The session introduces the “Triple Helix” collaboration model, showing how industry knowledge, research expertise, and development support can combine to deliver successful outcomes. Just as importantly, we will discuss failures—such as seaweed snack companies that collapsed following regulatory changes—highlighting that even robust planning cannot eliminate all risk.

This is a knowledge exchange, not a lecture. We are keen to learn from Maine’s own experience of supporting coastal and marine innovation and will leave plenty of time for questions and discussion with the audience. Attendees will gain insight into feasibility assessment frameworks, understand how collaboration can reduce risk, and build connections for ongoing cross-Atlantic learning.

Host: Hugh Cowperthwaite

Moderator: Hugh Cowperthwaite, Senior Program Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)

Panelists: Máire Éinniú, Head of Nua Mara, Ireland’s Marine Innovation Centre

Dr. Colin Hannon, Principal Investigator, Atlantic Technological University

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Camden Room)
Swipe Right for Science: Finding Your Perfect Collaborative Lobster Research Match

Brought to you by Sea Grant’s American Lobster Initiative, this session wants to keep the collaborative lobster research conversation going.

Are you tired of looking for answers in all the wrong places? Are you excited about the possibilities after hearing about all of the industry science collaborations in the previous session?

Does it sometimes feel like the lobster industry, scientists, and managers are speaking different (love) languages? It’s time to stop swimming solo and start building the collaborative research relationships you deserve. Join us for this Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative (ALI) seminar designed to spark chemistry and discussion between lobstermen, researchers, extension professionals, and resource managers.

The next call for ALI proposals is expected later this Spring. Come discuss potential research priorities for this new funding opportunity, talk to fishermen and scientists who have successfully tied the knot on past projects, or talk through the technical aspects of putting together a collaborative research project proposal.

This is speed dating for lobster industry/science collaborative research—minus the awkward small talk and plus meaningful impact. We are clearing the floor to help you find “The One” (collaborative project team, that is).

Whether you are a fisherman with a hypothesis or a manager seeking common ground, this is your chance to break the ice. Let’s skip the ghosting and start building a future together.

Looking for a quick coffee date (a simple gear tweak or pilot study) or a serious long-term commitment (a multi-year survey)? Bring it to the table. No idea is too small to spark a connection.

Come ready to mingle, share ideas, and maybe—just maybe—fall in love with a new collaborative research project idea.

Host: Gayle Zydlewski

Moderator:Michelle Brown, Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator, Maine Sea Grant

Panelists: N/A

 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Golf Club)
Alewife Harvesters of Maine Annual Meeting

The Alewife Harvesters of Maine annual meeting is an opportunity for collaboration and education in River Herring in Maine and other East Coast States. This meeting has been held successfully at the Forum for several years, providing a learning opportunity for Harvesters, Regulators, and the public.

It allows for the latest stock assessment data and restoration efforts for River herring to be presented and discussed in an open public forum.  We believe this meeting is a valuable opportunity for learning about where harvests are taking place in Maine, and the economic benefits they provide. This balances well with discussions about conservation efforts and regulations from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and restoration of alewife habitat in various watersheds throughout Coastal Maine. This provides a great interactive space where audience members can ask questions to the various Speakers regarding Alewife.

Host: Jacob Bowie, Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Board of Directors

Moderator: Mike Thalhauser, Alewife Harvesters of Maine Board Member, Alewife Harvesters of Maine

Panelists: Mike Brown, Sea Run Fisheries Biologist, Maine Department of Marine Resources

Dwayne Shaw, Executive Director, Downeast Salmon Federation

Mike Thalhauser, Project Manager, Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Bailey Bowden, Harvester, Board Member Alewife Harvesters of Maine

1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Rockport/Rockland Rooms)
Gubernatorial Candidates’ Forum

This November, Maine will elect its 76th governor. There is a large field of qualified candidates interested in succeeding Governor Janet Mills, each offering a breadth of unique ideas on how to lead the state.

Our next governor, and their choice of commissioner to lead the Department of Marine Resources, will have a significant impact on fisheries policy at the local, state, interstate, and federal levels.

In preparation for the 2026 gubernatorial election, the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Board of Directors has invited a diverse group of contenders for the office to attend a candidates’ seminar. This seminar will provide the candidates with the opportunity to introduce themselves, discuss their visions and ideas for the future of Maine’s fishing and aquaculture industries, and share other relevant initiatives.

Hosts & Moderators: Jacob Bowie, Attorney/Shareholder, Perkins Thompson PA

Sebastian Belle, Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Association

Panelists: Expected attending candidates include

Shenna Bellows (D)

Rick Bennett (I)

Jonathan Bush (R)

Edward Crockett (I)

Troy Jackson (D)

Angus King III (D)

James Libby (R)

Owen McCarthy (R)

Benjamin Midgley (R)

Hannah Pingree (D)

Nirav Shah (D)

Robert Wessels (R)

 

12:00 p.m. (Golf Club)
Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association Meeting

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Camden Room)
Maine Scallop Farming Roundtable

Maine’s scallop farming sector continues to grow, with strong links to research and regulatory issues, and new farming gear being used by growers and fishermen alike.  This is a chance to hear from industry members directly: what the challenges are, what the opportunities are, where are the most pressing needs, etc.  The session will be a program where all are encouraged to speak and listen; a conversation between producers and with important partners.  Session facilitators will support the group to maintain focus, capture important elements of the discussion, and to home in on achievable and most needed actions items.

Host: Hugh Cowperthwaite

Moderator: Phoebe Jekielek, Post-doctoral researcher, University of Maine

Panelists: Marsden Brewer – Founder, Pen Bay Farmed Scallops

Struan Coleman – Partner, Vertical Bay

Emma Fernald – Owner, Bay Lady Scallops

Greg Foote – Owner, Dirigo Marine Services

Andrew Peters – Founder, Vertical Bay

Jon Steuber – Partner, SeaScale

Charlie Walsh – Partner, SeaScale

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Golf Club)
Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council quarterly meeting (public)

The Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council meets quarterly to discuss safety, regulatory issues and current research.  The purpose of the CFSC is to advise the Commissioner of Marine Resources, provide education and outreach, and discuss emerging issues. This in-person meeting allows us to hear from and discuss issues with commercial fishermen and associated industry personnel. These discussions inform our future outreach and education as well as the recommendations we make to the Commissioner.

Host:Tom Duym

Moderator: Janine Drouin, CFSC Chairman Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

Panelists: Rob Odlin, Vice Chairman, Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

Ann Backus, Secretary, Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council

Sgt Mark Murry, Marine Patrol -DMR, and Maine Commercial Fishing Safety Council, ex officio

Jeff Nichols, Communications Director, Maine Dept of Marine Resources, Commercial Fishing Safety Council, ex officio

 

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Camden Room)
Fisherman collaboration in addressing gear disposal

This seminar highlights the field work of fishing industry members working with the New England GEAR Team to remove and dispose of “ghost gear” or ALDFG (Abandoned, Lost, or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear).  Over the past several years fishermen, divers, town leaders and other members of the community have been working with the GEAR Team (Center for Coastal Studies, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, Rozalia Project, OceansWide, Blue Ocean Society and Net Your Problem) to locate and land lost traps and large balls of rope/nets for proper disposal and/or recycling, or have delivered retired traps, rope and net for processing.  This session will feature the individuals who have worked directly on the project, showcase their generational knowledge of the issue, and provide examples of the methods they use to recover the gear.  Join us for an open discussion on the issue of ghost gear and how we can continue industry collaboration within Gulf of Maine waters to streamline fishing gear disposal.

Host: Melissa Smith

Moderator: Laura Ludwig, Marine Debris & Plastics Program Director, Center for Coastal Studies

Presenters: Erin Pelletier, Executive Director, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Emma Weed, Program Director, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation

Fritz McGirr, MDPP Operations Manager, Center for Coastal Studies

Buzz Scott, Executive Director, OceansWide

Ashley Sullivan, Executive Director, Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

Jen Kennedy, Executive Director, Blue Ocean Society

Caitlin Townsend, Net Your Problem

Dana Morse, University of Maine Sea Grant

2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Golf Club)
Paths Forward: SEA Maine’s Roadmap and Needs Assessment

SEA (Seafood Economic Accelerator) Maine is an industry-led effort, convened in 2019 to develop a strategic economic development Roadmap for Maine’s marine living resource economy. This presentation will focus on one of the projects that came out of that Roadmap: A Cooperative Seafood Logistics and Cold Storage Needs Assessment. The SEA Maine Roadmap identified cold storage and logistics issues as barriers to economic growth in Maine’s seafood industry. The Needs Assessment sought to identify and categorize specific weaknesses and then begin to develop ways in which these weaknesses could be overcome. Methodology included a literature review, an analysis of how similar obstacles were confronted in other parts of the world, and interviews with over 40 Maine stakeholders. In this presentation, John Rooks, lead investigator for the project, will present an overview of the project’s methodology, findings, and recommendations. After the presentation, Togue Brawn, SEA Maine Co-Chair, will lead a discussion of how insights from this project could be used to help grow Maine’s seafood economy.

Host: Togue Brawn

Moderator:Togue Brawn, Co-chair SEA Maine

Panelists: John Rooks, President, NORM: Culture & Communications