Acadian begins rockweed harvest in Cobscook Bay

Acadian Seaplants Ltd. has begun commercially harvesting rockweed in Cobscook Bay for this season, following the Maine Department of Marine Resources' approval of its harvest plan on June 17. As of June 24, the Nova Scotia-based company was the only company approved for harvesting in the bay, although a harvest plan has been filed by Butch Harris of Eastport, in conjunction with Robert Morse of North American Kelp in Waldoboro.

Acadian has been assigned sectors for harvesting in South Bay, East Bay, The Falls, the Pennamaquan River and Whiting Bay. Areas that Harris expects he will be assigned include Johnson's Bay, Bar Harbour and Dennys Bay, once the DMR issues approval of his plan. Harris says there may be some reassignment of sectors among companies, though.

Acadian's harvest plan estimates a total harvestable biomass for the sectors it has been assigned of 27,322 short tons. It is proposing to harvest 2,068 short tons. Last year, Acadian's landings were reportedly about 3,300 short tons. Under the new law that was enacted this month, the total biomass is estimated for each sector, and then the biomass for all public and private conservation areas, state parks and federally owned lands, where harvesting is not allowed, is deducted. The company is then allowed to harvest up to 17% of the remaining biomass in a sector. Among the public conserved lands are Cobscook Bay State Park and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. The DMR was planning this week to post a revised map of all sectors showing private and public conserved lands within the bay on its website at <www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/rockweed/cobsbay/index.htm>.

In addition, the Quoddy Regional Land Trust has compiled a registry of landowners who do not want to have rockweed harvested from the shoreline along their property. According to Acadian's 2009 harvest plan, "Harvesters will be instructed to voluntarily respect the no-cut registry recommendations on intertidal areas adjacent to private land that is properly identified until permission is granted."

Under the new law that sets restrictions on rockweed harvesting in Cobscook Bay, the commissioner of marine resources must report on the 2009 harvest, including harvester compliance with regulations and the Quoddy Regional Land Trust's voluntary no-harvest registry