Augusta - The Department of Marine Resources has awarded $202,500 in Shore and Harbor Planning grants to Bar Harbor, Chebeague Island, Long Island, Thomaston, and the Greater Portland Council of Governments. These awards, funded by DMR's Maine Coastal Program and NOAA, will be used for harbor management plans, documenting and increasing public access to the shore, designing and updating water access facilities, and waterfront resiliency planning. 

Phippsburg - Maine Marine Patrol is investigating a recreational boating fatality that occurred yesterday on Flag Island near Phippsburg. Marine Patrol was notified yesterday morning by a fisherman who reported a vessel aground on the island. Marine Patrol officers arrived on scene at approximately 7:00 a.m. and found a deceased male, identified as Vincent Wells, 37 of Phippsburg, aboard a 25-foot Yamaha Jet Boat. The vessel has been recovered by Sea Tow and will be examined by Marine Patrol as part of its ongoing investigation.

Dear License Holder:

Using funds for fisheries relief provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is reimbursing commercial harvesters for the costs of their 2022 licenses and any associated fees (surcharges, tags, etc.). To be eligible for reimbursement, the license must meet the following requirements:

Augusta - The Maine Marine Patrol will once again be looking out for anyone violating Maine's boating under the influence laws and sharing safety information during the national Operation Dry Water weekend, July 2-July 4. Operation Dry Water is a national awareness and enforcement campaign coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) that focuses on deterring boaters from boating under the influence (BUI) of drugs or alcohol.

The following notice is being shared as a courtesy on behalf of NOAA Fisheries. This notice can also be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/recent-increase-seal-deaths-maine-linked-avian-flu

Summer is in full swing and more people are enjoying time on our coastal waters. The Maine Department of Marine Resources wants to remind swimmers, paddlers, and surfers to be safe while in or on the water. 

While relative risk of a shark attack is very small, risks should always be minimized whenever possible in any activity on the water. The chances of having an interaction with a shark can be reduced if you follow this advice:

The DMR Bureau of Public Health invites you to attend the 2022 Quarter 3 Shellfish Advisory Council meeting September 14, 2022. We will start promptly at 1:00 PM and finish at approximately 4:00 PM.

In follow-up from our scallop industry meeting that was held remotely on Thursday, May 12th - a series of Scallop Advisory Council meetings have been scheduled for discussions related to developing the management plan for state scallops for 2022-2023 season and beyond.

There are three meetings currently scheduled, with the first one occurring in June; please mark your calendars: 

Attention Halibut Endorsement Holders: DMR's Chapter 8 (Landings Program) regulations were recently modified to increase the frequency of commercial harvester reporting in the halibut fishery. The new regulations consist of two primary changes: