The mission of the Friends of Blue Hill Bay (FOBHB) is to conserve the natural ecology, sustainable marine fisheries, and unique aesthetic quality of Blue Hill Bay. In addition to monitoring the expansion and effects of aquaculture, FOBHB also works with state agencies to advocate for better permitting and enviornmental monitoring.

The Director and Board President regularly attend public hearings and stakeholder group meetings as well as research and submit written comment on state permitting decisions. We also sign on to larger national efforts designed to protect our bays and oceans. Below are some recent letters that FOBHB has either submitted or signed in effort to advocate for our health of our bays.

FOBHB Opposes Black Island Pollutant Discharge Permit
In April 2011, FOBHB submitted a letter to Maine Department of Environmental Protection in response to the recent issuance of a Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MEPDES) permit and Maine Waste Discharge License for Atlantic salmon aquaculture to Phoenix Salmon US, Inc for the site at Black Island South located in Frenchboro, Maine.   The site will be stocked with about 40,000 fish per cage and the site will have about 20 cages for a total of 800,000 fish per site. Read Letter.

FOBHB Signs onto  National Ocean Council Letter
In June 2011 we joined the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance in signing onto a list of recommendations to the National Ocean Council on Strategies for Implementing the Priority Objectives of the National Ocean Policy.  The recommendations made in the letter addressed Ecosystem-Based Management, Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning, and Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration. Read Letter.

FOBHB Opposes Scrag Island Aquaculture Discharge Permit
See our letter to DEP opposing the discharge permit for Altantic Salmon of Maine LLC. Read Letter