Local worm diggers will petition the Maine Department of Marine Resources not to permit mud flat leasing.

A group of worm diggers met March 22 at Westport Landing in Wiscasset and decided they would oppose an idea brought up by a Georgetown clam digger who wanted to seed and harvest four acres of state-owned land.

“We oppose the leasing of mud flats to any group,” said worm digger Mike St. Jean, of Alna. “The mud flats should be open to anyone that wants to use them. It is just an idea now, but it could mean the end for worm diggers.”

“The people are protected by the Pond act of 1640,” St. Jean said. “To begin the leasing of mud flats would mean altering the constitution.”

The Pond Act of 1640 gives people the right to fish and use the tidal waters and ponds, according to St. Jean. “If the state starts leasing mud flats for clam diggers, it won’t be long before the worm diggers will have no place to dig,” he said.

According to Jon Lewis, a biologist for the Department of Marine Resources, leasing of certain mud flats are legal; however, there are several hurdles a person must go through before applying to the state for a permit.

Lewis said permit-seekers first must have the approval of the land owner, then they must also have approval from the local shell fish committee and the harbormaster or the town selectmen before the DMR will consider an application for leasing.

The DMR may or may not issue a lease even with the approval of those three entities, Lewis said. Also, the DMR has a review process it goes through before issuing a lease.

Before issuing a three-year permit, the DMR would hold a public comment period; for a 10-year lease a public hearing would be required. According to Lewis, the request for the lease in Georgetown is no longer an issue, because the applicant did not get the approval of the town.

“Worm diggers are welcome to call me if they have any questions; I can be reached at 207-633-9594,” Lewis said.

Another issue discussed by the worm diggers was the legislation being proposed that would close clam flats to worm diggers when clam digging has been suspended for conservation reasons. According to St. Jean, the legislation isn't needed because he doesn’t know a worm digger who would go on a flat that was closed for conservation.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.