State Regulatory & Legislative Updates
A running list of pending and recently approved regulatory and legislative changes from the Department of Marine Resources and Maine State Legislature.
Updated: 5/4/22
Maine Department of Marine Resources: Regulatory Changes
These are regulation updates for the Department of Marine Resources that specifically pertain to aquaculture. If you have questions about how these updates may affect your proposed or existing operations, please contact the Department of Marine Resources at [email protected] or 207-633-9594.
Recently Proposed Regulations:
- None currently
Recently Adopted Regulations:
- Chapter 115, Vibrio parahaemolyticus Control Plan - Effective April 21, 2022
- Chapter 2 Aquaculture Regulations - Effective March 8, 2022
- Chapter 2.95 Water Quality Classifications and Shellfish Aquaculture; Maximum Seed Sizes in Prohibited Areas - Effective March 9, 2021
- Chapter 94 Sanitary Control of Molluscan Shellfish - Effective March 9, 2021
- Chapter 115 Vibrio parahaemolyticus Control Plan - Effective March 9, 2021
- Chapter 24 - Importation of Live Marine Organism - Effective February 14, 2021
- Chapter 2 Aquaculture Regulations - Effective August 26, 2020
- Chapter 2 Aquaculture Leasing Regulations - Effective April 1, 2019
Maine State Legislation: Bills and Hearings
These are legislation updates from the Maine Legislature Committee On Marine Resources that specifically pertain to aquaculture. The Marine Resources Committee is located in room 206 of the Cross Building and is responsible for managing commercial marine fisheries, fish species, and aquaculture.
130th Maine State Legislature- Second Regular Session (2021-2022):
- An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Right To Know Advisory Committee Concerning Public Records Exceptions Related to Research and Aquaculture Leases (LD 1972) - Enacted
- Hearing - 2/25/2022, at 10:00 AM EST - Watch Recording
- Committee on Judiciary - 3/23/2022, Reported Out OTP/ONTP (Divided Report)
- House Action - 3/31/2022, PASSED TO BE ENACTED
- Senate Action - 4/5/2022, PASSED TO BE ENACTED
- Signed by Governor - April 7, 2022
- An Act to Provide for Special Fees for Certain Aquaculture Lease Applications and to Amend Other Provisions in the Laws Governing Aquaculture Leases (LD 1844) - Enacted
- Hearing - 2/8/2022, at 9:00 am EST - Watch Recording
- Committee on Marine Resources - 3/18/2022, Reported Out, Ought to Pass as Amended
- House Action - 3/29/2022, PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
- Senate Action - 3/31/2022, PASSED TO BE ENACTED
- Signed by Governor - April 4, 2022
130th Maine State Legislature- First Regular Session (2020-2021):
- An Act To Exempt Land-based Aquaculture Facilities from the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Requirements (LD 1473) - Dead
- Resolve, To Create the Study Group To Research Balancing Development and Conservation in Maine's Coastal Waters and Submerged Lands (LD 1211) - Dead
- An Act To Protect Maine's Ocean Waters and Support Regulatory Oversight and the Long-term Health of the Aquaculture Industry (LD 1146) - Dead
- An Act To Make Technical Changes to Maine's Marine Resources Laws (LD 263) - Enacted June 11, 2021
- An Act To Amend Maine's Aquaculture Leasing and Licensing Statutes (LD 106) - Enacted May 5, 2021
129th Maine State Legislature (2019-2020):
- An Act To Amend Maine's Aquaculture Leasing and Licensing Statutes (LD 1930) - Dead Due to Covid-19 Shutdown of the 129th Legislature
- An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Composition of the Shellfish Advisory Council (LD 1906) - Enacted March 17, 2020
For More Information
The updates presented here represent solely publicly available State of Maine regulatory and legislative information. To learn more about tracking legislative and regulatory changes at both the state and national level as well as industry lobbying opportunities, contact the Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA). Typically, MAA can provide the inside scoop about draft bills and regulations well before they're published. Email [email protected] or call 207-622-0136.
