Department of Marine Resources

The Department of Marine Resources was established in 1867 as the Commission of Fisheries. In 1931, the Commission became the Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries. Both the Advisory Council of the Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries and the Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission were created in 1947. In 1973, the Maine Legislature established the Department of Marine Resources, along with an expanded Marine Resources Advisory Council.

Today, the Department conserves and develops marine and estuarine resources of the State of Maine. The Department currently consists of four Bureaus, including the Bureau of Policy and Management, the Bureau of Marine Science, the Bureau of Public Health, the Bureau of Marine Patrol, and the Division of Aquaculture. Advisory councils are established by statute for Lobster, Scallop, Sea Urchin, Shellfish and Sea Run Fisheries and Habitat, as well as Commercial Fishing Safety and Aquaculture. In addition, seven lobster policy management councils (zones) are established with authority to hold referenda regarding lobster fishing regulations.