Frustrated over pollution and regulations, Waldoboro clam diggers heard from state and local organizers during a Thursday night meeting focused on addressing clam flat closures in the Medomak River.
The Shellfish Committee hosted a biologist from the Dept. of Marine Resources and Sen. David Trahan (R.-District 20) whose conversation with the some 40 clam diggers affirmed a collective interest in getting the flats open for the harvesting of clams.
“I am committed to resolving these issues,” said DMR biologist Denis Nault during a conversation with audience members about what the state agency can do, their limits and how the local community could help.
This dialog between Nault and clam diggers opened up a path of reconciliation in an effort to accomplish a shared goal. They talked about possible solutions to the clam flat closure quandary that includes deparation and reseeding techniques in addition to water testing.
Nault said staffing is an issue as there are just six members to survey 7000 miles of shoreline, but assured the crowd the DMR would work with diggers to get the flats back open.
“I want to look at a program employing a large number of guys,” Nault said. “You are all positioned on my bulls-eye.”
He encouraged local citizens and diggers to do some of the work in cooperation with the DMR.
Trahan mirrored comments made by Nault in that he wants to help clam diggers get back to work. However, he said stimulus funding from the state would not go toward this work.
Trahan outlined his plan to obtain funding for the industry. He has drafted a bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Dianne Tilton (R-Harrington) and with bi-partisan support, which would reinforce and provide funding for the DMR water-testing program.
Medomak Valley Land Trust director Liz Petruska updated the Committee and members of the audience surrounding the possibility of obtaining grant funding for water testing.
She also mentioned the University of Maine Cooperative Extension as another project partner. Diggers would not have to front money out their own pockets to match funds for the grants, she said. Volunteer time could act in the same capacity.
Diggers already conduct conservation work. Some diggers commented outside the doors of the meeting that while this work is important, it is complicated by pollution.
The livelihood of clam diggers is threatened on many fronts. Ice forms like concrete over flats. Regulations set by state and local authorities complicate their work. Pollution stemming from a variety of community sources spoils their harvest and the lack of resources to monitor the shoreline keeps flats that should be open, closed.
Further information will become available as Trahan anticipates a public hearing on the proposed bill.