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Protect Maine asks Stonington to consider aquaculture moratorium; Selectboard tables request for legal review
Summary
Protect Maine speakers urged a temporary moratorium on aquaculture leases to allow local review; Rep. Genevieve McDonald and others took part in the discussion. The Selectboard sent materials to legal counsel and tabled the request for further review.
Representatives of Protect Maine asked Stonington selectmen to consider a temporary moratorium on aquaculture leases while the town evaluates local authority and potential impacts.
At a May meeting Protect Maine’s Mark Gallagher and former DMR official Jon Lewis described concerns about a surge of lease applications and urged the town to consider a pause to permit local assessments. Gallagher provided materials and legal opinion excerpts for the board’s review. "There was some discussion from the board and TM about what the town could regulate," the minutes record.
State Rep. Genevieve McDonald, who sits on the Marine Resources Committee, corrected some procedural points raised by proponents about state processes. Abby Barrows argued the application process includes public notice and review. The board directed TM Billings to send Protect Maine materials to MMA legal counsel and to the town attorney for advice about municipal authority; the item was tabled pending legal review and further guidance.
The Selectboard took no regulatory action at the meetings covered by these minutes; the item remains under review.
