An update on the successful defeat of LD 2003

The Public Hearing. 131st Maine Legislature LD 2003

An Act to Protect Maine's Access to intertida! Zone
Reported by Torn Adamo, VP, Bagaduce Watershed Association., Board Member Friends of Blue Hll Bay, Councilor Climate Action Net

Hello fellow board members. NGO members, participants. interested citizens. I write this to close the circie on LD 2003.

A legislative hearing was held at 1:00pm on January 11, 2024. This piece of legislation was a hold over bill from May of 2023; if passed it would change the act of harvesting Rockweed into the act of fishing and its passage would also open the entire coastline to recreation use.

After much conversation and emails there were at ieast 20 NGOs who opposed the passage of the bill based on the issues of, but not all inclusive. the value of the Rockweed forests and its service to the ecosystem; it protects valuable juvenile species below the water surface, feeds juveniie waterfowl, wading birds and shore birds on the surface, sequesters CO2 and adds a barrier to erosion.

The hearing began with the Co-Chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources (one from Senate, one from House) explaining the protocols of the hearing alone in person and via Zoom with the proponents speaking first, the opponents second and the neither in favor or against speaking last. Although there were individuals and representatives of the Rockweed industry present none spoke in favor.

The opposition speakers were three:

1) I spoke first and simply thanked the JSCMR for their hard work. I also thanked the sponsor of the bill Senator Troy Jackson (Aroostock County) who withdrew his support of the bill during the week prior to Jan. 11.

2) A young woman who works on the stern of a lobster boat and a young man who is a clam/worm harvester and a lobsterman. They represented the Foundation to Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage. They were eloquent in their testimony. They echoed opposition simiiar to the objections of the rnany NGOs.

Numerous people spoke on Zoom expressing their appreclation to Sen. Jackson for his withdrawing support.

The hearing closed and the committee conducted a "work session" at which time the co-chair (representative) proposed that a committee be formed of stakehoiders from the seaweed industry, fishing industry, conservationists, scientists and community members working together to find a compromlse in this on-going conflict; managing Rockweed harvesting and access to the shore. The conflict uses too much human and financial resources. I volunteered to serve on this committee should it come to fruition. Stay tuned.

Then the JSCMR voted UNANIMOUSLY OUGHT NOT TO PASS. Rationality won this struggle but I fear the strugg!e is not over.

Thanks to everyone who wrote letters and spoke in opposition LD 2003. Your time and energy devoted to influencing policy was effective.

SUMMARY LD 2003

This bill states that for purposes of determining public trust rights and common law to rights in intertidal land, the harvesting of naturally occurring seaweed or rockweed is  deemed to be fishing. The bill exempts obtaining and exercising control over seaweed or rockweed naturally occurring on intertidal land from the statute governing theft. The bill exempts all activities authorized as a public trust right in intertidal land, including  recreation and the harvesting of seaweed and rockweed naturally occurring on intertidal land, from the statute governing criminal trespass.