COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SENATOR GERZOFSKY’S BILL TO CONSERVE MUD FLATS

AUGUSTA – A bill sponsored by Democratic Senator Stan Gerzofsky of Brunswick to conserve mudflats and protect natural resources from the invasive green crab was unanimously approved recently by the Marine Resources Committee.

“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.

“This legislation is a great first step in encouraging necessary marine stewardship activities,” said Chad Coffin of the Maine Clammer’s Association

The bill was held over from the last legislative session to further consider the concerns of all interested parties. Representatives of the worm harvesters and clammers thanked Senator Gerzofsky for his work on the bill, as did Marine Resource Officer Dan Devereaux of Brunswick.

“I’m sincerely thankful that Senator Gerzofsky maintained firm ground on this bill, balancing interest, policy, and science; and asking folks on the committee to begin looking at the bigger, more long term picture, which is adaptation to climate change and fisheries sustainability,” said Devereaux.

The measure, LD 1452 “An Act to Protect Areas in Which Shellfish Conservation Gear Has Been Placed for Predator Control and Habitat Enhancement Purposes” had a final language review this week and will come before the full legislature later in the session.

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