Aquaculture Frequently Asked Questions | Department of Marine Resources

Common Application Mistakes | Lease Application Processing FAQ | Site Visits and Reports FAQ | Harvest License FAQ | Harvester Reporting FAQ

Common Aquaculture Lease Application Mistakes

This list was generated by DMR staff and reflects mistakes that are routinely identified during the review of experimental and standard lease applications.

1. Detail for a Public Audience

The application needs to be written for the general public, not just DMR or other stakeholders that may be more familiar with aquaculture.

2. General Formatting

The application needs to be on the most current version of the application form, which is available on DMR’s website.
All figures and diagrams need to be labeled. o Answers to application questions should be typed or written in pen.
Applicants should be sure the pages are numbered correctly and in order.
Pages should either be all single-sided or all double-sided, not a combination.
Applicants should remove any pages of the application that don’t pertain to their proposal or are left blank (e.g. the “Landowner/Municipal Permission Requirements” section of the application, which only applies to applications that are intertidal or propose to use private property for site access).
Applicants should use consistent referencing and naming throughout the application, so that it is clear what is being described (e.g. using terms like oyster cages and oyster ranches interchangeably throughout the application makes it difficult for the public to understand what is being proposed).

3. Carefully Read Each Question and Provide Complete Answers. Partially Answered Questions or Missing Information Often Include:

Figures (overhead and cross-section view, gear drawing, etc.): applicants often don’t include the north arrow, scale bar, source of coordinate data, or separate overhead and cross section views for overwintering. Applicants should be sure to include all gear types that are listed in the gear table in the appropriate figures (e.g. the overhead view(s) should show the layout of all proposed gear types on the site).
Species: Applicants that are proposing more than one species often forget to include harvest information, gear types, etc., for each species being proposed 1 (e.g. someone proposing to cultivate oysters and scallops might only describe oyster cultivation).
Existing uses section: This asks applicants to describe other observed uses of the area (e.g. kayaking, fishing, etc.). Applicants will list an activity but won’t describe the frequency at which the activity occurs or where it occurs with relationship to the proposed lease site.
Current operations: Applicants should list the acronyms for all current leases and LPAs, and what the plan would be for those upon approval of the proposed lease.
Corporate applicants: make sure the Corporate Applicant Form (available on DMR’s website-linked below) and Articles of Incorporation are included with the submitted application.
Standard leases: Applicants should make sure the cover page includes the dates of any pre-application requirements and the dates that applications were submitted.
Escrow account/performance bond: Applicants should list the amount for escrow account/performance bond requirement that is applicable.

4. Intertidal Sites

Intertidal sites have certain written permission requirements as noted in the respective application. The applicant needs to include written permission with their initial submission.

5. Site Boundaries

Applicants should be sure all gear, including moorings and associated buoys, fit within the boundaries of the proposed site at all tidal stages. Applicants should take into account gear swing at lower tidal stages.

6. Riparian Landowner List

The riparian list needs to be legible and include complete mailing addresses based on the municipal tax records.

7. Incomplete Letters

After reviewing the initial application submission, DMR may send an incomplete letter if items or details are missing from the application.
Applicants should carefully review and address any items noted in the incomplete letter. If something isn’t clear, applicants should contact DMR for clarification (DMRaquaculture@maine.gov). Failure to address every item in the incomplete letter will result in an additional round of review, which delays the application from moving forward in the process.
Revised applications should be submitted in a timely manner.

8. Requests for Technical Assistance

DMR reviews and processes all applications in accordance with law and rules. DMR does not offer technical assistance with site selection, mapping, or any other aspect of compiling a proposal. Applicants seeking technical assistance may wish to consult with a marine extension agent (Sea Grant), industry association, nonprofit, or other individuals/entities that provide such services.

Lease Application Processing Frequently Asked Questions

Updated April 2026

How does DMR review lease applications?

When we receive an application, administrative staff make sure it is complete and includes payment. If the application is incomplete, staff communicate with the applicant about missing information or other corrections that are necessary. Once we have a complete application, we acknowledge receipt, and it enters the queue for review. Complete applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Staff strive to review applications within 30 days of receipt and will contact you when the review is complete. The system we have developed is intended to provide fairness to all applicants and helps us manage application review in consideration of program workloads, which includes processing land-based licenses, LPAs, lease hearings, site reviews, site reports, etc.

How does DMR process lease applications?

We process applications in order that proposals are deemed complete, not when they were initially received. Therefore, we encourage applicants to respond to requests for additional information in a timely manner.

Does DMR provide application processing updates?

At the time this document was last updated there were 132 applications in some phase of processing (pre-application through lease agreement). We are unable to provide each applicant with regular updates. Instead, we communicate processing milestones as an application moves through the process and as the law allows. For example, you’ll receive an email when the application is deemed complete, when the site report is published, when a hearing is scheduled, etc. Milestones are tracked on the Pending Aquaculture Lease Applications webpage.

It is not uncommon for several months to pass between each milestone. For example, it may take more than a year between the time an application is deemed complete and a site report is published. Applicants are welcome to contact us for updates, and we will let them know where the proposal is within the process, but we are unable to provide specific dates when next steps may occur.

How long does it take to process a lease?

The length of time it takes to process a lease application depends on a variety of factors. For example, a standard lease application that requires a hearing is generally going to take longer to process than an experimental lease application that doesn’t because of the notice and procedural requirements associated with hearings. In addition, some cases that require a hearing may be very complex, including intervenors, and it may take additional time for the Department to review evidence and write a decision. We are currently holding hearings on proposals that were deemed complete in 2024. At this time, it may take up to three years to process new proposals that require a hearing from the date the application was deemed complete to the time a final decision is rendered. It may take up to two years to process new proposals that do not require a hearing from the date the application was deemed complete to the time a final decision is rendered.

Why does it take so long to get a lease?

There are several factors that are currently impacting processing times, which are noted below. We are actively working on strategies to reduce processing times.

Staff capacity: The volume of applications exceeds the capacity at which existing aquaculture staff can process them. While we aim to further increase staff capacity, other programs that we manage have also experienced growth including LPAs and landbased licenses. Processing laws and rules: Leasing is a public process, and each type of application includes an opportunity for public participation. This includes public comment periods, hearings, scoping sessions, etc. These participation opportunities are, in part, what makes the leasing process robust. However, it also means that there are “breaks” or pauses in our ability to advance an application while it is under public review or awaiting the next opportunity for public input. Impacts from the pandemic: From March-September 2020, we were unable to hold any lease hearings. When hearings did resume, they were held on a limited basis as we 2 navigated fully remote and then hybrid formats. The good news is that staff vacancies have been filled, hearings have fully resumed, and we have implemented many new efficiencies across the Aquaculture Division.

Can DMR tell me the likelihood of approval?

No. Aquaculture leasing is a quasi-judicial public process, and we cannot speculate or guarantee decision outcomes. A final lease decision will be based on the applicable evidence in the record and associated decision criteria. A final decision may deny the original request, grant it with limitations, or grant it as originally applied for based on the record and associated decision criteria. Applying for a lease does not mean the site will be granted or that it will be granted as applied for.

What can I do to help decrease my processing time?

Develop a substantive proposal. Aquaculture is a growing sector of Maine’s economy, and many people are trying to enter the field or expand existing operations. Sometimes people use the leasing process as an opportunity to vet an idea instead of investing time in developing a substantive proposal that reflects community feedback, operational feasibility, technical expertise, etc. This often leads to applicants either withdrawing proposals or not being able to meet processing deadlines. DMR and other stakeholders invest time and resources into the review of these applications, so these cases can represent a significant loss of time and resources for everyone involved, including other applicants who have proposals in queue. Please be mindful of this as you submit proposal(s).

Know the aquaculture laws and regulations! Not following existing laws and regulations can result in denial of your application and retention of your fees.

Read the instructions companion document prior to filling out an application. Instructions documents are currently available for standard and experimental lease applications. The instructions provide clarifying information about the application questions and sample answers for reference. Instructions documents are posted under Applications and Forms with their corresponding application.

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Site Visits and Reports Frequently Asked Questions

What are site visits?

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to conduct a site visit for proposed standard and experimental lease sites. DMR also has the discretion to conduct site visits for proposed standard lease expansions. Statute and regulation specify the elements DMR is required to document during the site visit, including bottom composition, water depth, typical flora and fauna, relative abundance of commercial and recreational species, evidence of fishing activity, distances to shore, and navigation channels and moorings.

Site visits are scheduled by science staff at a time of year conducive to evaluate the proposed site and surrounding area in consideration of when the proposal was deemed complete. For example, staff may schedule the site visit around certain tidal stages, anticipated fishing activity in the area, or other considerations based on the nature of the proposal.

During the site visit, staff may SCUBA dive the proposed site or use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to assess bottom characteristics or other considerations. Staff may utilize other specialized equipment, including transom mounted depth sounders. Staff may be conducting work both within and outside of the proposed lease boundaries.

Are applicants notified when their site visit is scheduled?

No. However, applicants are sent a copy of the completed site report which details the findings of the site visit.

Can applicants or members of the public participate in the site visit?

No. It is important that the site visit is conducted objectively, so applicants and members of the public are precluded from participating in the assessment of a site. There are also certain safety protocols and procedures that must be followed, and staff are focused on making sure all elements are recorded. Staff may invite other agency staff on a visit to provide additional assistance or expertise, but that is at the discretion of DMR.

What is the site report?

The site report is a written document that details the findings and observations from the site visit. The site report is required prior to a decision being issued on any new lease site. In cases where hearings are required, the site report needs to be made available 30 days prior to the hearing. DMR sends a copy of the completed site report to the applicant and posts a copy to our website.

When will my site report be issued?

Site visits typically occur from late spring through early fall. The timing can vary each year depending on weather, temperature, and other environmental factors. From late fall through early spring, staff prioritize writing site reports. Therefore, it may be several months between when the site visit occurs and the publication of the associated report. However, this system represents the most efficient use of resources as site assessments can only be conducted during certain times of year.

Why aren’t site visits conducted year-round?

Site visits are conducted at a time of year that is appropriate to evaluate the proposed location. From late fall through early spring, many water-related activities are less frequent or not occurring (i.e. kayaking, recreational boating, certain commercial and recreational fisheries, etc.) and marine organisms, including vegetation, are much less active or dormant. Conducting site visits during this time of year is generally not adequate to evaluate the proposed location in consideration of applicable decision criteria.

How is the site report utilized?

It becomes part of the agency record and helps the Hearings Officer write a decision on the proposed lease site. In cases where hearings are required, the site report is entered as evidence.

I disagree with the observations in the site report. What should I do?

Please remember that site visits are an assessment of the proposed lease site and surrounding area at a specific point in time. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the leasing process to provide their feedback on the application and relevant decision criteria. The site report is one document that DMR may utilize to render a final decision on the proposal. However, relevant testimony, evidence, or other materials may also be used in evaluating an application.

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Aquaculture Harvest License Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the aquaculture harvest license?

The aquaculture harvest license (see 12 M.R.S.A. §6810-B) authorizes the holder or authorized representative to remove, possess, transport or sell organisms cultured on LPA and lease sites. You need to obtain a harvester license if you are selling product harvested from an aquaculture lease or license site or moving/transferring product between sites. You may obtain an aquaculture harvest license through DMR’s online licensing system (LEEDS) or call the Licensing Division at 207-624-6550.

Note about shellfish sales: Cultured shellfish can only be sold to a certified dealer, to the holder of an enhanced retail seafood license, at retail from the home of the aquaculture harvest license holder, and at retail on the aquaculture lease site (sales of cultured shellfish are not permitted on LPA sites).

If you don’t hold an LPA or lease, but work on a site harvesting and selling product do you need your own aquaculture harvest license?

No. The holder of the aquaculture site(s) needs to obtain the aquaculture harvest license. The aquaculture harvest license authorizes the holder and “authorized representatives” to harvest and sell product from permitted sites.

For LPAs, listed assistants would be considered “authorized representatives,” so those persons would be covered under the LPA holder’s aquaculture harvest license. However, if any of the listed assistants hold their own LPA site(s) they need to obtain their own aquaculture harvest license to cover the activities on the site(s) held in their name.

For lease sites, the holder would obtain an aquaculture harvest license and keep updated records of the individual(s) who are authorized representatives under the lease holder’s aquaculture harvest license. The records should include the first and last name of any authorized representatives and the timeframe they were covered. That way, as operations change, there is a record of the person(s) who were authorized to harvest and sell under a lease holder’s aquaculture harvest license. These records do not need to be filed with DMR but need to be made available upon request.

My lease is held by my company and the aquaculture harvest license can only be issued to an individual. What should I do?

It’s up to the company to determine which individual should hold the aquaculture harvest license. However, the designated individual is ultimately responsible for making sure harvest activities are reported on a monthly basis.

With multiple authorized representatives and multiple aquaculture sites how do we coordinate monthly reporting?

It’s up to the aquaculture harvest license holder to work with any authorized representative(s) to develop an internal process that works best for their operations. However, you should make sure that each authorized representative is aware of the information that they need to be collecting (i.e. the information that needs to be reported to the Landings Program) and that the information reported covers the monthly activity for each site.

Our operations are structured under a co-op model, so multiple individual farmers are harvesting and selling product they’ve cultivated on the same lease site. How would reporting work for this type of model?

There are two options for this type of model. The first option: Each individual farmer is responsible for purchasing their own aquaculture harvester license and reporting their own harvesting activities to the Landings Program. The second option: An individual representing the holder of the lease site purchases an aquaculture harvest license, and then designates the individual farmers as “authorized representatives.” The individual farmers, or “authorized representatives,” would report their harvest activities to an individual who then reports all harvest activity on the site to the Landings Program.

The first option requires every farmer to purchase and report their own harvest activities, while the second means that one person is responsible for tracking and reporting the harvest activities for multiple individuals who may be harvesting from a single site. With either option, it is very important to avoid double reporting. Any individual’s harvest activity should only be reported once per month to the Landings Program.

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Harvester Reporting Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly harvester reports need to be filed with DMR's Landings Program.

When are the reports due each month?: You’re required to file reports, so that they are received by the Landings Program by the 10th of each month and those reports need to reflect harvest activity for the previous month.
How can I file the report?: Monthly reports can be filed electronically through DMR’s online system (LEEDs) and on paper.
What information do we need to report?: All of the required reporting elements can be found in Chapter 8.20(S) of DMR’s regulations. Some of the required information includes LPA or Site ID, port landed, species, quantity, price, etc.
If I don’t harvest anything from my site, do I still report?: Some operations are seasonal, so there may be periods of time when harvesting does not occur on a site. In those instances, the license holder still needs to file a report. However, non-harvest can be reported in a single monthly report in advance of non-harvest periods. For example, if you know you won’t be harvesting in March- April, you could file that report in February. The next harvest report would then be filed in June, to cover any harvest activities that occurred in May.
Is the information DMR collects through reporting available to the public or other stakeholders?: The information collected as part of this reporting is kept confidential as required by applicable statute (12 MRS §6173 Confidentiality of Statistics) and regulation (Chapter 5). DMR cannot disclose to the public any statistics unless they are in aggregate or summary form as specified in Chapter 5. The data must be combined so that it does not reveal the identity of any harvester, business, or person.

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