Resolve, to Establish the Blue Economy Task Force to Support Maine's Emergence as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and Opportunity in the 21st Century
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1286
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: DUSON, RIELLY, BENNETT, CARNEY, CURRY, MOORE, RENY, BOYER, DAVIS, MATLACK

Legislative Document
No. 1286
S.P. 523
In Senate, March 23, 2023
Resolve, to Establish the Blue Economy Task Force to Support 
Maine's Emergence as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and 
Opportunity in the 21st Century
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DUSON of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative RIELLY of Westbrook and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, CARNEY of Cumberland, CURRY of Waldo, MOORE of 
Washington, RENY of Lincoln, Representatives: BOYER of Poland, DAVIS of East Machias, 
MATLACK of St. George.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the blue economy, which is the sustainable use of the ocean's resources for 
economic health, improved livelihoods and jobs and ecosystem health, is one of the fastest 
growing global economic sectors; and
Whereas, Maine is attracting the interest of blue economy entrepreneurs and investors 
due to the State's clean and cold waters, high-quality, sustainably harvested seafood 
industry, marine research institutions and deep reservoir of maritime expertise; and
Whereas, the work of the Blue Economy Task Force to Support Maine’s Emergence 
as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and Opportunity in the 21st Century needs to 
begin prior to 90 days after adjournment in order for the task force to have enough time to 
engage stakeholders, identify barriers and propose policies to attract and support the 
responsible and efficient growth of the blue economy in Maine; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Task force established.  Resolved: That the Blue Economy Task Force to 
Support Maine’s Emergence as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and Opportunity in 
the 21st Century, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established.
Sec. 2.  Task force membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, 
the task force consists of 23 members appointed as follows:
1. The President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate and the Speaker 
of the House shall appoint 2 members of the House of Representatives to serve on the task 
force.  Members appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 
serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities; and
2. The Governor shall appoint 20 members to serve on the task force, who serve at the 
pleasure of the Governor.  Members must be appointed as follows:
A.  One member from the Department of Economic and Community Development;
B.  One member from the Department of Marine Resources;
C.  Two representatives of the aquaculture industry, including one representative from 
the Maine Aquaculture Association;
D.  One member who is an investor in or lender to businesses involved in ocean 
resources;
E.  One representative of the marine construction industry;
F.  One representative of the marine engineering industry;
G.  Two representatives of the marine technology industry;
H.  Two representatives of the wild seafood industry;
I.  One representative from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences;
J.  One representative from Coastal Enterprises, Inc.;
K.  One representative from Downeast Institute;
L.  One representative from Gulf of Maine Research Institute;
M.  One representative from Island Institute;
N.  One representative from the Maine Maritime Academy;
O.  One representative from Roux Institute at Northeastern University;
P.  One representative from the University of Maine; and
Q.  One representative from the University of New England.
Sec. 3.  Chairs. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Governor shall 
appoint 2 cochairs from among the task force’s members, one who is employed by a state 
agency and one who is a private citizen. The chairs shall set the schedule and agenda for 
task force meetings and preside at the meetings.
Sec. 4.  Appointments. Resolved: That appointments to the task force must occur 
no later than August 31, 2023.
Sec. 5.  Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall develop a strategy and 
recommend a specific action plan to accelerate the State's emergence as an important 
contributor to the sustainable use of the ocean's resources for economic health, improved 
livelihoods and jobs and ecosystem health, referred to in this resolve as "the blue economy." 
The strategy must identify the State's current and potential future opportunities and 
challenges in the blue economy. The action plan must identify and recommend solutions 
to leverage the State's competitive advantages and overcome potential technical, economic, 
regulatory and other challenges to expand the blue economy. In developing its strategy and 
recommending its action plan, the task force shall consider and make recommendations 
regarding the following:
1. The State's opportunity to expand the blue economy and attract blue economy 
investment to the State by:
A.  Identifying the components of the blue economy relevant to the State;
B.  Describing and quantifying the scale of the State's existing blue economy;
C.  Identifying the State's current and potential future competitive advantages in the 
blue economy; and
D.  Quantifying the State's blue economy growth opportunity by 2035 and 2050;
2. Constraints to the growth of the blue economy by:
A.  Reviewing relevant local, state and federal environmental and investment rules and 
regulations to identify regulatory constraints to the growth of the blue economy;
B.  Reviewing state agency structure, staff resources and administrative processes to 
identify agency constraints to the growth of the blue economy; and
C.  Developing recommendations to amend environmental and investment rules and 
regulations, and alter state agency structure, enhance staff resources and improve 
administrative processes to facilitate the growth of the blue economy; and
3. Strategies to attract blue economy investment to the State and expand the blue 
economy in the State by:
A.  Considering the cumulative recommendations in the reports of SEAMaine, the 
Maine Aquaculture Roadmap and the Maine's Offshore Wind Roadmap to inform a 
unified vision for blue economy growth in Maine;
B.  Identifying the threats of climate change to the State's seafood economy and making 
recommendations to ameliorate the threats through modernization and technology 
improvements, decarbonization strategies and other means of diversification and 
adaptation to changing conditions;
C.  Identifying the State's current assets and areas of competitive advantage in the 
emerging blue economy and making recommendations to support existing and new 
businesses in those areas;
D.  Identifying the State's potential future competitive opportunities in the blue 
economy and making recommendations to attract investment to develop those 
opportunities;
E.  Identifying blue economy growth goals, such as revenues, jobs and metrics related 
to the growth goals, including intellectual property and multiplier effects for 2035 and 
2050;
F.  Identifying the State's institutional capacities to support the growth of the blue 
economy, opportunities to coordinate or integrate such capacities and needs and 
opportunities to invest in and strengthen those capacities;
G.  Identifying the State's working waterfront and industry support infrastructure 
capacities and evolving needs to accommodate the emerging blue economy;
H.  Identifying current and future workforce development needs to support the growth 
of the blue economy in the State; and
I.  Identifying current or future public and private investment vehicles, including state 
and federal funding and private investment, required to expand the State's blue 
economy.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Office of Policy Innovation and the 
Future, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of 
Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and 
the Department of Marine Resources shall provide staff assistance to the task force.  At the 
request of the task force, other state agencies and state entities shall provide information 
and analysis to assist the task force in its deliberations and reporting.
Sec. 7.  Report. Resolved: That the task force shall prepare and submit a written 
report to the Governor and the Legislature on its interim findings no later than December 
6, 2023.  The task force shall prepare and submit a written report of its final 
recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 
no later than November 6, 2024.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Blue Economy Task Force to Support Maine’s Emergence 
as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and Opportunity in the 21st Century to develop 
a strategy and recommend a specific action plan to accelerate the State's emergence as an 
important contributor to the sustainable use of the ocean's resources for economic health, 
improved livelihoods and jobs and ecosystem health.