A 40' x 40' "moored mussel raft" (platform) has been placed 1,300 feet off the Northport shore (just south of Kellys Cove).  This structure constitutes a significant navigational hazard, in addition to being just plain unattractive and disruptive to the beauty we all enjoy when looking out over the bay from Bayside.  The initial permit was granted without hearing in the middle of the winter of 2000/2001 when few interested parties were around.  The reason there was no hearing, according to the Department of Marine Resources, was that no one requested one, and five people have to request a hearing for one to be held.  Additionally, if we don't object to this encroachment in our waters, the state may permit additional structures to be erected along our coast.

In November 2001, Todd Merolla and about 20 residents of Bayside and Northport met with the Northport Selectmen, Andrew C. Fisk, Aquaculture Coordinator with the Dept. of Marine Resources, Mr. Peterson of Great Eastern Mussel, and Mr. Larrabee. Click here to see Todd's notes from that meeting.

In March 2002, the Maine Legislature's Marine Resources Committee essentially killed the state's aquaculture reform bill, blocking it from consideration by the full legislature.  Ron Huber of Penobscot Bay Watch has written an excellent opinion and analysis on the subject (click here to read).

Bayside Community: The time to act is now!

The three-year "experimental permit" for this platform will expire soon.  If DMR authorizes the conversion of the experimental lease to a permanent lease, the permanent lease would be for a period of 10 years and would authorize the use of up to 100 acres of rafts (up from under 3 acres presently).  Therefore, under terms of the new lease, we could have over 30 times as many rafts!

While I am very sensitive to using the BaysideMaine.com website as a soapbox for potentially divisive issues, I think we are at a crossroads with regard to this issue, and if the new lease is granted, we all stand a very real chance of our enjoyment of the bay, both navigationally and aesthetically, being forever diminished.  I don't believe allowing this lease to be granted is likely to benefit anyone in the Bayside community.  If I am wrong, I apologize to those very few individuals.

Up to this time, Todd Merolla has been carrying the flag for Bayside in the fight to make sure this new lease is not granted.  It's time for the rest of us to unify behind him and to let the town of Northport, the Department of Marine Resources and the harbormaster (Mike Brown) know how concerned we are about the navigational hazard posed by even the existing smaller platform (let alone one that is 30 times its size).  To be successful in our defense of the waterfront and navigational safety, it will be necessary for many of Bayside's residents and boaters to also support this effort.  Both Mike Brown, Northport’s Harbormaster, and Cathy Messier, Belfast’s Harbormaster, consider the existing platform to be a navigational hazard.

PLEASE WRITE A LETTER TODAY TO THE ENTITIES LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE.  IT WON'T TAKE LONG, IT WILL ONLY COST YOU ABOUT A DOLLAR AND IT WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

Click on the following to review letters that concerned members of our community have written.  The letters do an excellent job of explaining the situation.  Please read them.

Click on the following to view some photos of the structure:

Hearings on the proposed aquaculture lease rule changes will be held on January 7, 8, and 9, 2003, but comments will be received through January 21, 2003.

The town has, up until now, shown little concern regarding this issue, but then again, the town has many other issues it must deal with on a day-to-day basis.  It will take your involvement in order to generate such concern.   

What can you do to rectify this situation?  Letters should be written to the following entities (with copies to Todd Merolla).

Selectperson John Burgess

Selectperson Denise Lindahl

Selectperson Paul Rooney

16 Beech Hill Road

Northport, ME 04849

northport@agate.net

Ms. Kirsten Hebert