SPECTRUM NEWS • March 23, 2023
A legislative committee voted Thursday to kill a bill that sought to establish additional regulations on Maine’s industrial aquaculture sector. The Sierra Club-backed measure sought to require the Department of Marine Resources to ensure that new land-based aquaculture facilities would not degrade water or air quality or increase carbon emissions. It also would have put in place strict new standards for feed sources. Supporters said they are concerned that the state lacks the ability to consider the cumulative effects of the industry. Since 2018, five large-scale fish farms have been proposed in Belfast, Bucksport, Jonesport, Frenchman Bay off Bar Harbor and Millinocket.