Marine Resources Committee

Mission/Purpose

To administer and coordinate Marine Resource conservation.

Membership

The Brunswick Marine Resource Committee consists of seven members and two alternates to be appointed by the Town Council. The members must include three town licensed resident commercial shellfish harvesters, three residents of the community who do not possess a town or state shellfish license, and one town licensed resident recreational shellfish harvester. One alternate must be a town licensed resident commercial shellfish harvester and one alternate must be a member of the community who does not possess a town or state shellfish license.

Members:

Commercial Harvesters

Cody Gillis, Chair
Camden Reiss
Max Burtis

Recreational Harvesters

Vacant

Non-Licenses Citizens

Susan Olcott, Vice Chair
Anthony Yuodsnukis
Marko Melendy

Alternatives

Peter Milligan
Vacant

Meeting Schedule

1st Tuesday of every month
6:30 p.m.
Brunswick Town Council Chambers
85 Union Street
Brunswick, ME 04011

Committee Responsibilities

To administer and coordinate the shellfish conservation program.
To recommend to the town council how the money appropriated for shellfish conservation programs should be spent.
To survey the coastal waters to obtain and maintain current information on shellfish resources, including:
1. The determination of size frequency.
2. The determination of growth rate.
3. The estimation of the available standing crop.
4. The estimation of potential yield.
5. The identification of sources of harmful pollution.
6. The identification of other resource problems, such as green crab predation and mussel competition.
To determine the current level of use of the shellfish resources.
To cooperate with the Department of Marine Resources and others in carrying on experimental programs.
To prepare and promulgate a shellfish conservation plan in cooperation with the Department of Marine Resources based on the results of the shellfish survey, recommending area rotation, seeding, transplanting, predator control, and the opening and closing of the coastal waters.
To collect harvest data documenting local values of shellfish resources.
To make an annual written report to the town and the Department of Marine Resources detailing funds available, expenditures made, shellfish population data, results of all conservation and experimental programs, enforcement activities, and sources of pollution, predation, competition and other resource problems.
To establish annually in conjunction with the Department of Marine Resources the number of commercial shellfish harvesting licenses to be issued.

Committee Staff

Dan Devereaux, Coastal Resource Manager

Annual Reporting

The Marine Resource Committee will present to the Town Council on a annual basis.

Next Scheduled Reporting: February 5, 2024

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

For information on all Shellfish Harvester Licenses click here.

Licensed Commercial Shellfish Harvester Information

A licensed commercial shellfish harvester must obtain a total of ten conservation credit points between May 1 and February 15 in order to remain eligible to obtain a license for the next licensing year. Participation in any of the following activities results in the granting of conservation credit as specified. Conservation points can also be purchased through the Town Clerk's office for $100 per point no later than February 15th.

Two Conservation Credit Points

Participation in any one of the following activities shall deem a harvester eligible to receive two conservation credit points per event attended:

Documented attendance at a Brunswick Marine Resource Committee meeting or Brunswick Marine Resource Committee public hearing
Documented attendance at a regional or state shellfish committee meeting
Documented attendance at a shellfish conference (i.e. Fisherman's Forum)

Five Conservation Credit Points

Participation in any one of the following activities shall deem a harvester eligible to receive five conservation credit points per event attended:

Participation in a Brunswick Marine Resource Committee sponsored shellfish reseeding project or green crab trapping program
Participation in a Brunswick Marine Resource Committee sponsored experimental shellfish enhancement project
Participation in Town of Brunswick shellfish surveys
Participation in Town of Brunswick water quality monitoring event
Participation in an organized coastal or environmental remediation along within the Town of Brunswick
Participation in non-point pollution identification or pollution abatement projects within the Town of Brunswick