AUGUSTA – On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a bill sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D- Westbrook, that establishes a limited-purpose aquaculture license that allows for nursery and husbandry activities in coastal waters. It also streamlines and modernizes the process for amending aquaculture leases via recommendations from the Department of Marine Resources’ Aquaculture Advisory Council.
“Maine’s sea farmers play a crucial role in our state’s economy, from providing food to our communities to creating jobs,” said Rielly. “LD 2025 will help streamline the leasing process and promote innovation. It will help grow the aquaculture sector and ensure that our waterfronts remain working.”
"LD 2025 significantly improves the state's aquaculture management system. Representative Rielly and the Marine Resources Committee worked hard to protect the environment and public trust while allowing seafarmers to innovate and grow their businesses," said Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association.
As amended, LD 2025 removes the requirement that the holder of a research and aquaculture lease submit an annual seeding and harvesting report. It also creates a 30-day period after the expiration of a limited-purpose lease in which the leaseholder may apply and submit a late fee to extend the lease.
The new law will go into effect 90 days following the Legislature’s final adjournment.
Rielly is serving his third term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. He represents a portion of Westbrook.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Rielly) | 305-965-2744