The Select Board voted last month to create a harbor master post and begin a search for someone to fill the job.
The board voted 2-1 at its April 28 meeting to take that action in response to the dispute between Atwood Lobster and the Spruce Head Fishermen’s Co-op on Spruce Head Island.
The dispute between the two lobster dealers began when Maine Lobster and Processing LLC proposed expanding its bait storage building deck area, which the co-op contends would further constrict the navigational corridor used by its members’ vessels. The expansion would increase navigational conflicts and safety risks, the co-op warned.
Maine Lobster also proposes constructing a new 16-foot-by-28-foot floating dock system.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection approved the expansion of Maine Lobster and Processing LLC’s wharf system on Jan. 8. But the co-op filed an appeal to the Board of Environmental Protection on Feb. 5, warning the expansion would block access to its own wharf — an appeal Maine Lobster contends is without merit.
Representatives from both organizations informed the Select Board April 28 that litigation and an appeal filed by the co-op with the Board of Environmental Protection are on pause as they attempt to mediate the issue.
Maine Lobster is a subsidiary of Mazzetta Co. LLC of Highland Park, Illinois, which bills itself as one of the world’s largest importers and producers of shrimp, mussels, lobsters, crab and finfish, selling more than 100 million pounds of finished seafood products annually. The conglomerate purchased the longtime family-owned Atwood Lobster business in Spruce Head in 2011. In addition to Atwood Lobster, Mazzetta owns and operates Beach Point Processing on Prince Edward Island in Canada and cold storage distribution facilities in Londonderry, New Hampshire.
The co-op is a fishing cooperative that has operated continuously since 1972 at its Spruce Head location. It serves about 40 lobstermen.
Select Board member John Spear called for creating the harbormaster position, saying that the harbormaster could deal with navigational disputes if the two sides don’t reach an agreement.
The Tuesday Select Board agenda included an update on that search.
Several lobstermen voiced opposition to creating the harbormaster position, saying it could lead to unnecessary regulations and costs such as registration of moorings.
Select Board member Sue Snow voted against creating the post, citing that similar concern.
Supporters of the position say a harbor committee could be created, with fishermen on it, to oversee any proposed regulations.
At the April 28 meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of Beverly St. Clair as librarian. There was some discussion by the public of criticism of the library operations by a small, vocal group which led her to resign.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.
