DMR Proposes New Aquaculture Regulations in Maine

Most of the changes are minor, removing outdated provisions or clarifying confusing language, says TheEllsworthAmerican. According to the news organisation, a few of the proposed changes, though, could have a real impact on the state’s shellfish aquaculture industry.

Perhaps the biggest change is in the schedule of annual rent charged for aquaculture leases. Currently, the annual rent for every aquaculture lease site is $100 per acre. With most leases lasting 10 years, a Maine fish farmer would typically spend $1,000 per acre over the lease term.

While $100 may seem a negligible fee for acquiring virtually exclusive control of an area of the state’s waters, DMR is proposing to cut that fee in half for the first two years of a lease devoted to the bottom culture of blue mussels. The reduced rent would apply only to new leases granted under applications completed in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

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