September 10, 2001

Letter to the Editor

Waldo Independent

Belfast, Maine

All mariners transiting the upper West Penobscot Bay, and especially those heading for or coming from the mooring fields in Bayside and Belfast, should be aware of a new navigational hazard.

It is a moored mussel raft located some 1,334 feet off the coast of Northport southeast of Kelly Cove (44o22.196’N 68o57.404’W).  The total acreage is 1.86 (a 135’x600’ triangle).  The suspended mussel platform is 40’x40’ but the moorings take up most of the 600’ lease.  The moorings are 3-4 ton granite blocks with 40 feet of chain and 150’ of 1 ½” polysteel rope.  Presently there is one raft but the lease depicts three rafts.  The raft(s) will have a radar reflector and a nighttime blinking light.

The lease (experimental) is for three years and held by Joe Larrabee of Belfast.

I was not aware that the application which was filed on 11/15/00 had been accepted although I had a copy of the application.  The first I heard of its presence was late on the eve of the Around Islesboro Race at about 7 p.m.  Early the next morning 9/8 I inspected the area and plotted the raft by DGPS.  It was in the correct position but the raft and mussel barge were both unattended.

Considering the large number of race sailboats that would be transiting the area, I called Rockland Coast Guard and requested that they broadcast a Notice to Mariners about the raft because this is the first time such a permanent obstacle had been located in Upper West Penobscot Bay.  I asked for some cooperation for only a couple days broadcast but especially on the day of the race.

After much federal folderol between Coast Guard Rockland and its boss Group Southwest Harbor (is this a Coast Guard sanctioned race?), the CG refused to broadcast.  So much for maritime safety a la U.S. Coast Guard.

So mariners and lobstermen be warned.  The site is perfectly legal but that doesn’t help if somebody gets snarled in a mussel web.

Mike Brown