Maine issued its first marine sea farm lease 46 years ago. Since that first mussel farm lease, 28 other species have been farmed in our state waters, and our understanding of biology, ecology, and farm site technology and operations have improved dramatically. As innovation moved forward, so did the regulatory framework that codifies Maine farmer's social license to operate.
Through the first four decades of Maine's experience, opposition to leasing sites on the ocean for farming has been ever present. Riparian owners, commercial fisherman, recreational boaters, conservation organizations, and community members concerned about the environment have voiced opposition to permitting farm sites during and after the leasing process.
Over the last decade farming intensity has increased. Today there are 815 lease sites; 165 standard and 650 limited production sites in Maine waters. In addition, 80 new standard site applications are being processed by the Maine Depart of Marine Resources. As the number of sea farm sites has grown, opponents to farming have adopted sophisticated approaches in their opposition to lease applications. But this is not the only change. Former sea farm opponents have begun farming, and in the bays they farm , opposition is lessening, and social license to operate is improving. This presentation will address what has changed and how lessons learned over the past decade may be employed in other regions.