AUGUSTA – On Thursday, Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, introduced a bill that would strengthen working waterfronts against aquaculture nuisance complaints. Additionally, four working waterfront measures sponsored by Rielly underwent work sessions and were advanced by their respective committees.
LD 1595 would provide the same protections to the aquaculture sector that commercial fishermen have under current Maine statute regarding nuisance complaints.
“It only makes sense that our aquaculture sector should have the same protections as our commercial fishermen,” said Rielly. “Over my years working with members of the aquaculture community, I have heard time and again that coastal, often wealthy, landowners who don’t want to hear, see or smell aquaculture operations unfairly file nuisance complaints, which can put a halt to the work and food production Mainers rely on.”
LD 1245, which received unanimous support from the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee, would establish a non-lapsing fund within the Maine Office of Community Affairs to receive state, federal or private money to spread awareness of Maine’s working waterfronts. Amended by the committee, the measure would also establish a Working Waterfront Advisory Council led by members of Maine’s working waterfront community, including members of the Wabanaki Nations, towns, nonprofits, trade organizations, educational institutions, individuals and industries. If passed into law, this council would provide annual updates and recommendations to the Legislature on how to best support Maine’s working waterfronts.
“Without our working waterfronts, our state risks losing out on a major source of revenue and thousands of jobs,” said Rielly. “We also risk losing a key piece of our identity. Establishing this fund will further help the Maine Office of Community Affairs provide technical assistance to our communities, along with spreading awareness of their importance.”
LD 1433, which received support from the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, would conduct a feasibility study of a higher education service corps program and establish a working waterfront infrastructure engineer corps pilot program, which would help increase the number of qualified people who can help mitigate the effects of climate change and damage caused to Maine’s coastal communities.
“The extreme winter storms in January 2024 laid bare the workforce and capacity challenges to rebuild working waterfronts,” said Rielly. “Many of our municipalities don’t have the ability to address these issues. They need support, and a working waterfront infrastructure engineer corps pilot program would be a great value in helping to protect our coastline well into the future.”
LD 1596 and LD 1722, which both received unanimous support from the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee, would reduce the administrative workload on the Department of Marine Resources while allowing for the alteration of aquaculture leases for people hoping to operate in this sector.
“The leasing and amendment process is one of the most pressing issues facing Maine’s sea farmers and commercial fishermen who have aquaculture leases,” said Rielly. “The pending passage of these key pieces of legislation will help alleviate these regulatory issues.”
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