Crab farm and crab cages on Saint George Peninsula, Maine, USA.
Photo: Radomir Rezny / Adobe Stock.
Three new laws aimed at strengthening the aquaculture sector in the US state of Maine have been signed into law, in a move supporters say will make operations more efficient and better protected against disruption.
The measures, sponsored by Democrat state legislator Morgan Rielly, address concerns around aquaculture lease renewals, local opposition to aquaculture sites, and planning for future infrastructure needs along the coast.
One of the new laws, LD 1595, extends existing nuisance complaint protections currently available to commercial fishermen to aquaculture workers. According to Rielly, aquaculture operations are frequently the subject of complaints from nearby landowners, which he argues can unfairly disrupt food production.
“I have heard time and again that coastal landowners who don’t want to hear, see or smell aquaculture operations unfairly file nuisance complaints against our aquaculture workers,” said Rielly, who represents part of the city of Westbrook in Maine’s House of Representatives. “They deserve the same protections as our commercial fishermen," he added.
Two other new laws aim to reform the aquaculture lease system, which Rielly described as "uniquely burdensome", time-consuming and difficult to navigate. The first of these, LD 1596, directs the Maine Department of Marine Resources to review the system and report back to lawmakers with recommendations by early 2026. Meanwhile, LD 1722, passed as emergency legislation, aims to streamline lease renewals with immediate effect.
"These measures help ensure that our leasing process is responsive, efficient and fair, while maintaining the high environmental and public trust standards Maine is known for," Rielly said.
The new legislation has been welcomed by industry representatives from the Maine Aquaculture Association. “Rep. Rielly has accomplished more for Maine’s working waterfront in one legislative session than has been achieved in many years,” said Sebastian Belle, its executive director.
“The men and women who rely on the ocean to support their families and coastal communities owe him a great debt for his hard work and determined efforts to support and protect working waterfronts," Belle added.
