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Shellfish Task Group

From a letter dated August 9, 2011 from acting DMR commissioner Pat Keliher:

The Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR) Public Health Division is in the process of re-prioritizing its activities and filling the vacant Division Director and Growing Area Program’s Marine Resource Scientist III positions. During this period of transition, DMR has assembled a task group to conduct a state-wide review of Growing Area Classifications with guidance from shellfish growing area staff. The goal of this group will be to evaluate closure classification and closure size and where appropriate, increase harvestable acreage while maintaining public health standards according to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP).

Task group members will compile information from shellfish growing area staff, area biologists, shellfish committee members and shellfish growers, in order to target specific areas or issues for investigation. This approach will address concerns from coastal towns who would like to collaborate with DMR for evaluations of their highest production shellfish areas. By targeting work to growing areas identified by the towns and shellfish communities DMR will be able to concentrate its efforts on the areas that are most valuable to the shellfish industry.

This task group will be working on a six month timeline. They are soliciting input on issues and priorities and would like to get all comments back to DMR by October 31, 2011. To begin this collaborative process, please provide the following information:

1. A list of priority shellfish areas the town would like the task group to explore;
2. A point person the task group will be able to contact with questions;
3. Ideas or comments from the shellfish community for consideration about current classifications or for future work.

Comments can be sent by email to Michelle Mason (michelle.mason@maine.gov) or through the mail:

Maine DMR/Shellfish Task Group
PO Box 8
West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575

The Department expects that the work of this task group will result in additional harvest areas for Maine’s shellfish harvesters, but it is unlikely that all areas of interest will have the potential for immediate classification changes without additional work. Priorities will be assigned based first on the commercial potential of particular harvest areas. DMR will post information and updates on the task group’s work on its website to facilitate open and transparent communication on this effort. For additional information please call Kohl Kanwit at 633-9535.

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