* Works with area farms, Dept. of Environmental Protection, Dept. of Marine Resources, and the Dept of Agriculture to mitigate runoff from manure piles, proper fencing and fertilizer techniques that do not pollute streams that feed into coastal estuaries and shellfish beds.
* Educates the public on the importance of tri-annual septic system maintenance.
* Works to insure that communities move in a green direction with regard to water run-off. For example, start discussing the benefits of porous pavement, modern roofing designs, and planting vegetation filters around storm drains and parking lots.
Bring your conservation program to the next level by allowing commercial diggers to obtain conservation time by joining the MCA or Maine Shellfish Officers Association (MSOA). This allows your program to encourage participation in big picture efforts that help the industry tremendously.
Thank you to all who have 
contributed to and supported the 2009 MCA Santa Fund. This year we are happy to report a tremendous success. Your generosity has been overwhelming and with your efforts the MCA has recently surpassed the goal of raising $6,000 in cash, not to mention a huge cache of really great new toys! We have identified families in need and will be distributing gifts of toys and food in the coming days. Thank you to all who have helped the MCA give back to coastal communities during the holiday season. We know that this year has been particularly challenging for many in the MCA family, and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts. Happy Holidays!
by Brian Beal, Downeast Institute, Machias
Predators take a huge toll on our Maine clams each year. Their effectiveness depends on where you are along the coast, what kind of flats you have in your area, the size of most of your seed in your flats, and, most importantly, the number and kinds of predators in your area.
The green crab, an invasive species, and the moon snail are the most destructive predators in Maine waters.
What controls predator populations is a great question that will have to wait for another issue.
As our coastline continues to develop and become more populated, the urgency of public education campaigns directed to protecting our coastal water quality continues to grow. With an increasing population, comes more dogs and other pets as well as more lawn fertilizer, more septic systems and more boats. As a shellfish commission, please begin to discuss among yourselves and your town’s leaders how you can build a shellfish program that:
* Educates people on the impacts of irresponsible pet waste disposal.
* Educates school children on the importance of responsible environmental stewardship.
* Encourages local clammers to step up community service efforts that will allow them to become more of the social fabric of the community. To really achieve success on many issues clammers will need broad and popular community support.
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