Technical Briefs

Here are technical support briefs and related resources developed by the MSLN and collaborators. These are organized by topic and each resource provides relevant contact information. Please contact us if you have any issues or questions about accessing these resources. We are also always expanding this list, so please send us materials or links you would like to feature here.

Coastal access

During the January 2022 Maine Department of Marine Resources Shellfish Advisory Council (ShAC) meeting, harvesters discussed current concerns about accessing intertidal mudflats in their towns and shared solutions and funding sources that have been helpful in the past. Issues of concern included the loss of informal walk-in access as properties change hands; increased turnover in land ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic; crowding and parking shortages at municipal facilities; and safety concerns and increased costs related to longer transit times in small boats to harvest areas, especially in winter. After the discussion, Maine Coastal Program staff organized the concerns into five primary categories: 1) space, facilities, and use conflicts; 2) ensuring commercial access over time; 3) building and maintaining relationships; 4) tracking change; and 5) municipal capacity limitations. This document provides information about potential funding opportunities, examples of successful solutions, and information about potential governmental, academic, and non-profit partners. A list of previous studies and Maine waterfront access inventories is also included.

• Resources for Preserving Commercial Fishing Access

Water Quality

This community guidance document was written to help communities address water quality concerns through conducting a Septic System Vulnerability Assessment. This document’s intended audience is any municipality that is concerned about high levels of fecal indicator bacteria in their valuable recreational or fishing waters. Those waters include coastal waters, mudflats, lakes, streams, or beaches. The Septic System Vulnerability Assessment can provide a comprehensive, data-based view of the risk of pollution from septic systems in a town or watershed. The guidance document introduces the threat of failing septic systems to the environment, presents a septic system vulnerability assessment as a way to identify potential risk, and provides resources for communities to take the next steps towards protecting and restoring water quality.

The guidance document was developed by FB Environmental Associates in collaboration with the Town of Waldoboro, with additional review and input from the Midcoast Conservancy, Maine Shellfish Learning network, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and Tidal Bay Consulting. 

This report was prepared for the Town of Waldoboro by FB Environmental Associates under award CZM NA20NOS4190064 to the Maine Coastal Program from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce. 

Shellfish Management and Adaptation Techniques

• Quahog Management, Restoration, and Aquaculture: A review of case studies in Maine – 2020

• Milky Ribbon Worm Predation and Mitigation: A literature review – 2020

Shellfish Learning and events

MSLN Priorities and History

Here is a document that describes the MSLN launch meeting on September 20, 2019 and the priority action items that were identified at this meeting.

These action items became a core focus of our work following this meeting.

• Connect key actors in water quality decision making and shellfish project permit regulation
• Strengthen communication between towns and DMR through improved annual reporting and information systems
• Conduct research focused on marketing strategies, market-based solutions, and policy options for wild clam and mussel fishery
• Continue to build learning resources, including technical briefs, digital media techniques, and water quality decision support, to share and archive information about applied projects and water quality efforts in coastal towns
• Continue to develop relationships with governmental and municipal partners and grow the network