AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a public hearing on a bill Monday to make sure Maine has the knowledge it needs to protect the health of its marine environment. The bill puts Maine one step closer to resuming regular mapping of eelgrass beds along the coast.
"Mapping eelgrass would go a long way toward understanding and improving the health of Maines coastline, a need that has only increased with the acceleration of climate change," said Rep. Jay McCreight, D-Harpswell, the sponsor of LD 593. "Eelgrass is a linchpin species that is connected to nearly all coastal life, and managing it well will yield major benefits for our environment and our marine economy."
Mapping of eelgrass was done in the 1990s and 2000s but was discontinued when staff was diverted to other projects.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes eelgrass as a flowering marine plant and "one of natures most valuable and productive habitats in our marine environment." Eelgrass provides a space for marine organisms to find both food and shelter. Its also a food source for birds and spawning ground for various creatures. It mitigates erosion, improves ocean chemistry, produces oxygen and filters some of the runoff that is contributing to ocean acidification and climate change.
Mapping, done primarily through aerial photography, could help determine if Maine is meeting its water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. It would also provide more accurate assessments about the health of marine habitats.
Understanding of eelgrass locations would also be used for Natural Resources Protection Act permitting, oil spill response actions and for review of aquaculture lease applications. A regular schedule of mapping would allow comparison over time for best practices management and better identify areas of concern.
The bill would also ensure that data collected will be publicly available through the state website and through biennial reports prepared by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection staff.
McCreight submitted a similar bill in 2019, but it never received a final vote after the Legislature adjourned due to the pandemic in March of 2020. The major difference between the two bills is that, at the recommendations of scientists she worked with, the newer bill also includes mapping of salt marsh vegetation. Both eelgrass and salt marsh vegetation are considered to be effective at carbon sequestration and, due to their close proximity, mapping both habitats at the same time would not add extra effort or cost.
The committee will hold a work session and potential vote on McCreights measure in the coming days.
McCreight, House chair of the Legislatures Marine Resources Committee and a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents Harpswell, West Bath and northeastern Brunswick.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [McCreight], c. 812-1111