As promised, I am finally getting down to the local level of how to best manage our coastal resources.
I started this series by introducing the ways in which we value our oceans. Next, I described the ocean planning efforts happening around the country and specifically in the Northeast region. Then, last week I covered Maine’s role and how its agencies manage some of our resources for the entire state.
But, if you have traveled along the coast, you know how incredibly diverse it is in every way. From its geology to its economy, Maine’s nearly 3,500 miles of wiggly coastline can be sandy and open, it can be fjord-like and rocky, or it can be muddy and flat; and its shoreline can be lined with large summer houses, small fish shacks and working docks, or nothing at all. This means that one community may be have an entirely different set of values and needs versus another.
For this reason, individual towns have the authority to manage some of their specific coastal resources. This responsibility falls to the towns’ Marine Resource Committees (MRCs). These are all-volunteer bodies that make recommendations to the town councils and to the state.
The MRCs are made up of a mix of shellfish harvesters and citizens along with the town’s harbormaster. The reason for the harvesters’ membership is that each town’s MRC is in charge of its wild harvested shellfish. This is a critical task as the state’s shellfish resource is valued in a good year at $15 million and supports more than 1,700 harvesters. In recent years, this resource has experienced severe declines due to predation by invasive green crabs, so the MRCs have had some challenges to deal with.
Another challenge in managing marine resources is coordinating the different levels of jurisdiction. For example, commercial fisheries are managed regionally and the lobster fishery is managed at the state level. But coastal communities need to be able to provide input both in terms of information and concerns to those agencies.
The MRCs are one way to do this from the town to the state level. The stickiness often emerges as resources shift or there are new uses. Take, for example, the dilemma between worm harvesting and clam digging — two activities that can happen in the same place. Worm harvest is managed by the state and clamming is managed by each town — two different agencies managing the same area.
Aquaculture is another example that stands to have a large impact on small towns. Shellfish aquaculture has emerged as a way for fishermen to supplement their incomes or for others to make a sustainable living along the coast. Small-scale Limited Permits for Aquaculture (LPAs) have been popping up in Midcoast Maine and there is great potential for growth. But, the leasing for these sites goes through the state.
There’s no requirement for input or approval from the towns as to where they are located or the details of their design. As the industry grows, this is something that will have to be navigated between the state and coastal towns to insure that coastal residents have a voice in what happens along their shores.
So, how does your average citizen get involved at a local level?
To start, each town’s MRC typically meets once a month and the meetings are open to the public. As a member of Brunswick’s Marine Resource Committee, I can tell you that these meetings are generally well-attended, primarily by shellfish harvesters, but also by members of the public who have an interest.
But, it is often difficult for someone not ensconced in the industry to navigate complex and nuanced coastal issues, not to mention find time to attend these meetings. Fortunately there are community groups that can help with some of this outreach.
For example, Midcoast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) works closely with Harpswell’s fishing community. This past spring, they completed “Beyond the Bow: A fisheries needs assessment of Harpswell,” a report based on hundreds of hours of interviews of people associated with the fishing industry in the town. The information gathered served as a valuable resource to Harpswell’s MRC.
South of here, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has also served as a convener of interested parties and helped to educate and involve those living and working along the waterfront. The Island Institute is another organization that focuses on outreach not just to islands, but also to other working waterfront communities. These are just a few of the groups doing outreach and education on coastal issues.
As an individual, one small step that you can take is to do your best to stay informed so that you can participate and voice your opinion about what is most important to you. Following the work of the organizations I’ve mentioned is one way to start, along with attending your local MRC meetings.
In addition, my goal in writing this column is to serve as a translator of what is happening along our coast so that you can decide what is important to you. Finally, I welcome your questions and concerns.
Susan Olcott lives in Brunswick, with her husband and 7-year-old twin girls. She earned her M.S. in zoology studying the lobster fishery in New England. She then designed education programs for the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and taught biology to military personnel in Sardinia, Italy before returning to Maine to work on ocean planning for The Ocean Conservancy. She is now a freelance writer and currently writes about coastal issues for the Harpswell Anchor and The Working Waterfront and about local foods for the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust and Zest Magazine. In addition, she helps local schools pursue educational grants and writes children’s book reviews for the Horn Book’s family reading blog as well as for her own blog: susanolcott.wordpress.com.
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