Maine delegation reintroduces bill to allow clam, worm digging in Acadia

Federal legislation aimed at allowing marine harvesting to occur along Acadia National Park's tidal mudflats and requiring congressional approval for any expansion of the national park has been reintroduced in Congress.

All four members of Maine's congressional delegation said Friday that they have submitted companion bills in the House and Senate.

The bills are updated versions of bills that Sen. Angus King and then-U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin submitted in January 2017. The Housepassed the bill in March of last year but, though the bill did get through committee in the Senate, it was not approved by the full Senate and lapsed at the end of the 115th Congress.

As a result, with a new Congress now in place, the bills have to be re-introduced to begin each chamber's committee review process anew.

The issue of harvesting worms, clams and seaweed from the shoreline surrounding the park came to a head in 2016 as Acadia rangers increased their scrutiny of such activities and, at times, have told harvesters they have to leave. The bill, if approved, would allow clammers, worm diggers and other marine harvesters to continue to ply their trades by traditional means in the intertidal zone along the park's shore.

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