Maine’s lobster fishermen petition limitations on aquaculture industry

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP)—A group that includes some lobster fishermen has organized a petition asking Maine officials to put limits on new aquaculture operations in the state.

The group says a bump in the number of new licenses could impact where lobstermen are able to lay their traps. The complaint comes as Maine’s farm-raised oyster industry has been growing, as the industry was worth six times more in 2017 than 2011.

The Portland Press Herald reports the organizers submitted a petition with 189 signatures to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. That’s more than the number needed to start a rule-making process.

The petitioners want a statewide moratorium on pending lease applications that are more than 10 acres. They say they fear the state’s most valuable fishery could lose access to the ocean.