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Closures and consumption advisories
The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) have issued the following advisories and closures related to mercury levels found in certain biota.
- Lobster and Crab Fishing Closure – In February 2014, DMR closed the lobster and crab fishery north of Fort Point (see map). This closure occurred in response to the Study Panel’s Phase II Report, which identified elevated mercury concentrations found in lobster and crab in this location. In June 2016, DMR extended the closure downstream to a line running from north of Perkins Point in Castine northwest to Rocky Point on Cape Jellison in Stockton Springs. This additional closure occurred in response to a 2014 sampling event for which the report was not released until 2016. These closures were made permanent in November 2016.
- For more information visit DMR's Notice of Agency Rule-making Proposal and the closure overview
- For more information visit DMR's Notice of Agency Rule-making Proposal and the closure overview
- Black Ducks – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has stated that high levels of mercury have been found in breast meat of black ducks taken in and around the lower Penobscot River, and specifically from Mendall Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Frankfort, Maine.
- Safe consumption advice for waterfowl taken from Orrington south to the southern tip of Verona Island is:
- Pregnant or nursing women and children under the age of 8 - do not eat waterfowl from these waters
- Everyone else - limit consumption to 2 waterfowl meals per month
- A meal is consumption of one 8 oz duck breast
- For more information contact 207-941-4474 and review DIFW's Bird Diseases page
- Safe consumption advice for waterfowl taken from Orrington south to the southern tip of Verona Island is: