The following press release is being shared on behalf of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 30, 2025

PRESS CONTACT, TINA BERGER, 703.842.079

A Sea Urchin Zone Council Meeting (SUZC) will be held Wednesday, 

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of proposed dredging operations. The Maine Port Authority, in cooperation with the City of Portland and the Maine Department of Transportation, is proposing to dredge around the International Marine Terminal pier face and bulkhead in order to remove sedimentation to improve berthing.

Maine’s coastline stretches for thousands of miles. Within that expanse are many intersecting and often competing activities and values. Mainers are deeply connected to the coast through livelihoods, cultural identities, family legacies, and deep appreciation for nature, wildlife, and wild spaces. But sometimes those connections to the coast can clash.