American Aquafarms reps, critics take sides at Gouldsboro park
GOULDSBORO The tastiness of the refreshments was the one undisputed topic at a lively, open-air meeting held Saturday by both American Aquafarms and opponents of the Norwegian-backed company’s proposed plan to raise 66 million pounds of Atlantic salmon annually at two sites in Frenchman Bay.
“No Industrial Scale Fish Factory in Frenchman Bay” was among the roadside banners and signs at the Gouldsboro Town Park, where the company and opponents offered information to the public at opposite ends of the green.
In the Gouldsboro park’s gazebo, American Aquafarms hired local caterers Donna Harmon and Brenda Clough, who put on a lavish spread of baked goods, desserts and light luncheon fare that caused the more 100 people in attendance to mingle and converse. Still, exchanges with the company’s Project Manager Tom Brennan often were heated over many issues from housing and truck traffic to workers’ wages a
Smith was concerned that the substance could be toxic and sent photos of it to an official at Maine s Department of Environmental Protection. The official passed the picture along to others, hoping somebody could shed some light on what was covering the sandy beach.
Steve Dickson, a marine geologist with Maine Geological Survey, saw the photos and was stumped as well, so he reached out to
Linda Stathoplos and J
ohn Lillibridge, retired oceanographers who live near Wells Beach. They went to the beach and collected samples, and after examining them under a microscope, discovered the substance was made up of the carcasses of dead insects.