I am fortunate to represent Washington County in the Maine Senate. It is a beautiful place with a stunning coastline and, like so many other places in Maine, it also has its share of economic challenges.

Led by our famous lobster fishery, the ocean provides much of our economic resource and greatest opportunity for prosperity. Still, Washington County needs more than just lobster to have a thriving economy. This is where industries like rockweed harvesting can play a big role.

Rockweed is an economic and environmental treasure for our state. Yes, I’m talking about that green, slippery seaweed that blankets our coast. Anyone who has ever seen Maine’s coastline knows rockweed is abundant here. There is an estimated one million tons of it growing in the Gulf of Maine; and Downeast is home to much of it.

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a number of my legislative colleagues in Jonesport for a Rockweed Open Harvest Day. We spent the day learning from experts about the many reasons rockweed harvesting should be an important component of our coastal economy, and one that carries plenty of environmental benefits as well.

What we heard is rockweed harvesting offers real economic opportunity for my constituents and Mainers up and down the coast. Among its many commercial uses, rockweed can be a key ingredient in eco-friendly garden fertilizers and used to make crops more resistant to climate change and less reliant on petroleum-based fertilizers. It is also a nutritional additive in food for pets and livestock, which improves animal gut health.

From an economic perspective, licensed rockweed harvesters can make a real living by responsibly harvesting the seaweed and selling it for its wide variety of uses. Moreover, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) regulates rockweed harvesting like most every other fishery in Maine to promote sustainability.

Seaweed harvesters must obtain a license and comply with strict regulations governing how much of any given plant can be cut. For rockweed in particular, Maine DMR — in conjunction with the Maine Seaweed Council — began developing harvesting framework in 2013 since rockweed comprises more than 95% of all seaweed landings in Maine. Such landings must be reported similar to other fishing sector requirements.

In fact, the University of Maine has studied harvests conducted under these regulations and, in a paper released earlier this year, concluded that rockweed fully recovers its biomass within a year of harvest. As a result, the industry has minimal impact on our shoreline ecosystem.

In short, rockweed can be sustainably harvested and provide a solid income in parts of the state like mine where economic opportunity is much needed. Its commercial uses benefit us all by promoting sustainable harvesting practices. This seems like an obvious win all around, but for some it’s not.

There is a vocal opposition to its harvest; and detractors seem to come from two camps. The first is a small percentage of those who own homes along the coast and see rockweed harvesting as a nuisance when it comes too close to shore.

Mainers have always made their living from the sea and rockweed harvesting — like every other fishery — has a long tradition here. The vast majority of Maine’s shorefront homeowners have traditionally lived in harmony with our working waterfront; and there is no reason to change this dynamic now. We shouldn’t cut off meaningful economic opportunity unless it truly causes harm.

The second group that has been vocal in its opposition is comprised of a few environmental groups. This opposition is ironic given the proven environmental benefits of rockweed when used commercially. It’s also not based on the science around rockweed harvesting and sustainability — it sounds much like the lobstering/right whale argument all over again.

It’s true that rockweed is a crucial part of Maine’s shoreline ecosystem. Who hasn’t sorted through a bed of rockweed with their kids or grandkids to find the crabs, snails and many other forms of sea life living among its tendrils? Fortunately, its harvest is designed to allow this ecosystem to thrive, contrary to the claims of some opponents.

With this latest science in hand and understanding the importance of rockweed harvesting to Washington County’s economy, I intend to take steps in the coming legislative session to ensure the industry can thrive. I will be joined in these efforts by members of both parties interested in preserving Maine’s long tradition of a strong working waterfront.

In the meantime, I hope everyone can support our licensed harvesters.

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