‘Protect Maine’ asks Selectmen to consider aquaculture moratorium; state DMR process and public-comment roles debated

A community group identified as Protect Maine asked the Stonington Selectmen to consider a temporary moratorium on aquaculture leases, citing concerns about a rapid increase in lease applications and the need for more local review. Mark Gallaher and former DMR official Jon Lewis described their concerns about process and possible ecological impacts while Rep. Genevieve McDonald provided a counterpoint about state-level process as she understood it.

The Protect Maine presenters referenced a white paper and argued for placing controls at the municipal level until the Town could review cumulative impacts. Jon Lewis described the application pressures he observed in state practice; Rep. McDonald responded with corrections about committee procedure and the scope of local authority as discussed in the minutes. Abby Barrows and other participants described existing public-notice steps in the DMR process.

Selectmen did not take action at the meetings recorded in the transcript. TM Billings indicated she had sent materials to Maine Municipal Association legal staff and the town attorney for review and recommended tabling the request pending legal advice. The board accepted public presentations, thanked participants and left the moratorium matter open for possible future consideration.

Why it matters: Aquaculture leases can affect marine use patterns and shoreline communities; local moratoria are sometimes used to pause new leasing so municipalities can update ordinances or prepare planning responses.

Next steps: The transcript indicates officials requested legal review and did not adopt moratorium language during the meetings described.

Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 019 and referenced again (topic finish SEG 021).