2024 Maine Coast Protection Fund

Robin Hadlock Seeley is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Rockweed provides vital habitat for commercially and recreationally-important marine species including lobsters, bait fish, shellfish, and many types of wildlife, including waterfowl, migratory seabirds, and otters. As stated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “unlike other fisheries and recreational activities occurring along Maine’s coast that may impact wildlife, rockweed harvest removes habitat.”

Rockweed industry members are suing us for 1) protecting the rockweed habitat we own, and 2) correctly informing shore owners that they have legal right to protect the rockweed forest on their intertidal land (Ross decision 2019).

These industry plaintiffs lost in Superior Court and now are appealing that loss in Maine Supreme Court. The legal arguments have been completed and we await the court's decision. Meanwhile, we have attorney's bills for $31,000 for the excellent 2024 legal work from Attorney Gordon Smith (Verrill).

We are trying to raise $15,500 towards that goal through this GoFundMe. (We have an offer of matching contribution from a generous donor.)