Penobscot Bay Blog: June 2018

DMR Jon Lewis Aquaculture Div dir jon.lewis@maine.gov 633-9594 Maine Coastal Program Kathleen Leyden. kathleen.leyden@maine.gov 287-3144 cell: 557-4014

* Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Michele Walsh, Maine State Veterinarian Michele.walsh@maine.gov; (207) 287-7615

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_health/landbased-aquaculture.shtml

FEDS

* Army Corps of Engineers - 2 staff

Nordic Peter Tischbein.623-8367 ext 3 Peter.Tischbein@usace.army.mil

Whole Oceans Shawn Mahaney .623-8367 shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil

* EPA Danielle Gaito (gaito.danielle@epa.gov) (617) 918-1297

*NMFS Max Tritt Fishery Biologist for Maine Atlantic Salmon.

207-866-7322. max.tritt@noaa.gov

* US FWS Wende Mahaney Wende_Mahaney@fws.gov
(207) 902-1569 Maine Field office

Land-based salmon farming in Maine - how oversight went from DMR to DACF

On November 11, 2017, Maine PUBLIC LAW 2017 CHAPTER 94 came into effect.
Titled An Act To Transfer Responsibility for Licensing of Landbased Aquaculture from the Department of Marine Resources to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry" It describes the authority for the transfer to the land agriculture agency and how it will decide how safe these are.

Says Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry will deny land based salmon aquaculture licenses, if either DMR or IFW informs DACF "that the aquaculture activity presents an unreasonable risk to indigenous marine or freshwater life or its environment." Sounds like a strongish standard (no "unreasonable risk"), but only as strong as the information that the agencies have to determine its reasonableness or unreasonableness. Given tthis is new hitherto unused technology, it won't be easy.

Text of Public Law 2017 Ch 94 Law:
(Sentences separated for ease of reading)

"Transfers authority for the licensing of land-based aquaculture from the Department of Marine Resources and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

"The Commissioner of DACF shall refuse to issue a license if the Commissioner receives information from the Commissioner of either DMR or DIFW that the aquaculture activity presents an unreasonable risk to indigenous marine or freshwater life or its environment.

"The risk factors that DMR and DIFW shall consider include but are not limited to: risk of accidental or intentional introduction of marine or freshwater organisms, or organism products, into the waters of the State, risk of the introduction or spread of disease within the State and interference with the enforcement of possession, size or season limits for wild marine or freshwater organisms.
"
The Commissioner of DACF shall monitor licensed facilities annually and if there are risks noted such as listed above the Commissioner shall notify DIFW and DMR"

(End )

Rocklanders crash 6/27/16 harbor commission/cruiseship industry meeting, take part. AUDIO MP3s

On June 27, 2018, a dozen people, including two journalists, ignored postings by Rockland

Harbormaster Matt Ripley and City Manager Tom Luttrell claiming that a meeting of city and state officials, held in the harbormaster's office 8 am was not open to the public.

Citing the Maine Open Meetings Law, they attended anyway. The meeting featured briefings by Amy Powers of MaineCruisePro and Cruise Lines International public relations VP Mike McGarry, followed by lengthy questions and answers sessions in which the uninvited-but- there-anyway public participated and networked with the other participants.

0. At request of Amy Powers,all attendees including puiblic introduce selves 1min15sec.

1. Introduction 1 Tom Luttrell. Rockland city manager 37 seconds

2. Introduction 2 Amy Powers 3min 33sec.

3 Michael McGarry Cruiselines International VP Govt & Public relations 2min 55sec

4. Questions and Answers

Q&A 1. 8 min 32sec

Q&A 2 10 min 35 sec

Q&A 3 7 min 57sec

Q&A 4 11min 38sec

Q&A 5 7min

Q&A 6. 8min 31sec

Q&A 7 to meeting end 8 min 18sec

Jun 17, 2018

2018

A Likely Scenario During a Future Winter i New England. Examining a new report on Maine's power grid performance from December 24, 2017 to January 8, 2018.