Resolve, Establishing the Biotoxin Testing of Cultured Scallops Pilot Program
Summary
LD 1279 establishes a temporary Biotoxin Testing of Cultured Scallops Pilot Program within the Department of Marine Resources through December 31, 2027. The program is designed to test whole cultured scallops and cultured scallop roe for biotoxins using the same general approach used for other cultured mollusks under Maine’s Marine Shellfish Toxins Monitoring Program, including high-performance liquid chromatography testing. The department is also directed to provide logistical support to participating commercial fisheries businesses, including transporting samples from the grower’s facility to the testing site.
The resolve excludes cultured scallops and roe grown on limited-purpose aquaculture license sites from the pilot program. It also requires reports to the Legislature by January 1, 2027 and January 1, 2028 on participation, industry impacts, economic growth, cultured scallop landings, and recommendations for improvement or expansion. The Legislature may use the 2028 report as the basis for a future bill in the next session.
Impact
The bill creates a new, time-limited state pilot program and appropriates $50,000 per year for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the General Fund to support scallop biotoxin testing. It does not permanently amend the shellfish monitoring statutes, but it operates alongside the existing Marine Shellfish Toxins Monitoring Program in Title 12, section 6076 and may inform future statutory changes if the pilot is expanded or made permanent. The measure directly affects the Department of Marine Resources and commercial scallop aquaculture businesses that choose to participate, while excluding limited-purpose aquaculture sites from eligibility.
Sentiment
The available record suggests a generally supportive or at least pragmatic posture toward the bill, as reflected by its enactment and funding. The proposal appears aimed at helping the scallop aquaculture industry manage food-safety testing burdens and improve market access by making biotoxin testing more accessible. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented opposition in the materials supplied.
Contention
The main policy issue is the scope of eligibility and implementation: the bill limits the pilot to cultured scallops and roe not grown on limited-purpose aquaculture license sites, which may leave some growers outside the program. Another likely point of discussion is the state’s role in logistics and funding, since the Department of Marine Resources is required to support sample transport and the program is funded with General Fund dollars. The reporting requirement also signals that lawmakers want evidence on economic benefits and industry impact before deciding whether to expand the program.
Resolve, Directing the Department of Marine Resources to Evaluate How to Effectively Allow 2 Licensed Individuals to Fish for Lobsters or Scallops from a Single Vessel