Town of Franklin

This document outlines a collaborative Shellfish Management Plan for the Frenchman Bay Regional area, encompassing Ellsworth, Franklin, Hancock, Lamoine, Sorrento, Sullivan, and Trenton. The plan's primary objective is to preserve, protect, manage, and enhance shellfish resources and the ecological well-being of the region, ensuring a sustainable harvest for commercial and recreational harvesters. Key strategies include limiting non-resident commercial licensing, managing the opening and closing of harvesting flats, enforcing minimum shellfish size limits, and implementing an intertidal mussel management plan. The plan also aims to increase seed stock, foster participation in conservation efforts, enhance collaboration with various stakeholders, and build the knowledge base through education and scientific data.