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Maine Municipal Shellfish News

This page contains news of state wide interest. For regional and local news as well as a calendar of events to be attended by staff, select Regional Offices & Info at the left and the appropriate regional office.

 

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What is going on at the state level.

Annual Management Review

The 2008 Annual Management Review forms will be mailed to all of the Shellfish Committees in early December with a March 1st deadline. The purposes of the review are: 1) to document and discuss the conservation activities of the past year, 2) to plan and document the proposed activities for the coming year and 3) to determine if the municipality is meeting its regulatory requirements under the Municipal Shellfish Conservation Program - DMR Regulations: Chapter 7. Each program will be evaluated on management performance and reporting compliance .

Shellfish Advisory Council

Created through legislation, the Shellfish Advisory Council will presumably serve a similar function to its predecessor the Maine Soft-shell Clam Advisory Council. The following individuals have been chosen by the Commissioner to serve on the Council: Joe Porada, Abden Simmons, Dick Lemont , James West (representing shellfish harvesters); Fiona DeKonig and Chris Davis (representing aquaculture); Ginny Olsen and Randy Ramsdell (representing dealers); Lori Howell (representing depuration); Dan Devereaux and Jim Cathcart (representing wardens); Jim Fancy (representing municipal water treatment) and Matt Craig (representing the public).

Closed Areas Online

The Public Health Division of the DMR is now posting areas closed to the taking of shellfish due to pollution on the DMR website. A legal description and map of each area is available. See Shellfish Closed Area Inventory.

Shellfish Regulations: Chapter 9

New shellfish regulations, which deal with shellfish sanitation in harvesting and designated Chapter 9, are now law. After a lengthy period of public meetings and public hearings, the new regulations were passed by the Marine Resources Advisory in May. An in service training session on Chapter 9 enforcement was held for all Marine Patrol Officers. To ensure that harvesters are aware of the new regs and have sufficient time to comply, Marine Patrol will observe a four to six month grace period.