SENATE GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO MUD FLATS CONSERVATION BILL

Senator Gerzofsky’s bill first to address invasive green crab

AUGUSTA – The Senate unanimously gave initial approval to a bill sponsored by Democratic Senator Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick to conserve mudflats and protect natural resources from the invasive green crab. The bill is the first legislation put forward to address the issue of the invasive green crab.

“This bill is a common sense measure aimed at conserving our coastal resources. We want to make sure hard working clammers and wormers on the coast can continue to make a living on the mud flats for years to come,” said Senator Gerzofsky. “In addition, towns who have already invested tax dollars in conservation measures can now protect that investment.”

The bill would allow municipalities to apply to the Department of Marine Resources to request a prohibition on all marine harvesting on flats already closed to clammers for conservation purposes. Since many towns are already contemplating actions to protect marine life on mud flats from green crab infestation through fencing or trapping, the goal of the measure is to ensure that municipalities can protect their investments by restricting marine harvesting.

The green crab also affects other aspects of the ecosystem. In addition to worms and clams, green crabs eat eelgrass, which protects the development of baby lobsters.

The measure, LD 1452 “An Act to Protect Areas in Which Shellfish Conservation Gear Has Been Placed for Predator Control and Habitat Enhancement Purposes and Establish a Municipal Predator Control Pilot Program,” faces further votes in the House and the Senate.

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