Governor Janet Mills said Feb. 18 that Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), will retire from his position on March 14.

"After nearly 14 years of dealing with the challenges facing Maine's marine resources it's not the issues I remember most, it's the people," said Keliher, in a release from the Governor's office.

""The issues facing the marine sector are ones not easily solved, which means rolling up your sleeves and having tough conversations about how people make a living on the water and about what Maine has to offer. Through the good times and the bad, I have made lasting friendships up and down the coast. This work and the success of the DMR was made possible only through the hard work and dedication of our employees. I leave this job humbled by these friendships and by my extraordinarily talented staff who I was blessed to work with every day."

Keliher is the longest-serving commissioner in the history of DMR. He was re-appointed by Governor Mills as DMR Commissioner in 2019, after serving in the position since 2012.

The Governor will name an Acting Commissioner for the Department before his departure, if a permanent Commissioner is not yet nominated. Any candidate for Commissioner will be subject to a hearing before the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee and confirmation by the Maine State Senate.

"Over his tenure, Keliher has earned a reputation as a strong and influential voice for the protection of Maine's marine resources and environment, and a powerful advocate for the Maine industries, communities, and people that depend on them," said a release from the Governor's office.

Under Keliher's leadership, DMR worked to strengthen Maine's commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture industry through responsible management and industry partnerships, the release said.

He worked closely with Maine's federal delegation and state lawmakers to protect Maine's fisheries and marine environment and expand investments to restore fish passage and marine habitats. In recent years, he led State efforts to help Maine's marine industries recover from the pandemic and rebuild working waterfronts after devastating winter storms last year.

"Commissioner Keliher — Pat — has served this Administration and the people of Maine with great distinction," said Gov. Mills. "Under his leadership, he tackled many significant challenges to Maine's commercial fisheries and marine industries, while leading an agency that served its many communities and constituencies with honesty and respect.

"Maine's commercial fisheries and seafood industries, our marine environment, our working waterfronts, and our coastal communities are better today because of Pat's relentless advocacy for Maine. I will miss his leadership in my Cabinet and wish him well in his retirement. A native of Gardiner, Pat is also an avid outdoorsman. Now he will have more time for training bird dogs, flyfishing, hunting, and most important, spending time with his family."

Maine Senator Susan Collins weighed in on the announcement.

"Pat has been a tireless advocate for Maine's fishing industry and marine resources," she said. "His expertise and advice were critical to our successful effort in Congress to pause the onerous whale regulations put in place by NOAA that threatened Maine's lobster industry. While we will miss Pat's leadership and his advocacy, I know that we will always be able to find him spending some well-deserved time with his family and enjoying Maine's woods and waters."

Senator Angus King also commented: "I really like and admire Pat for the hard work he has done on behalf of Maine under difficult circumstances, up to and including the federal government's attempts to shut down the lobster industry. It was he that came up with the plan that led to the legislation that saved Maine's lobster industry. He always has tried to do the right thing, and his commitment and passion for this job are unmatched. Personally, Pat is honest, good-humored, incredibly hard-working and a glutton for challenges -- I thank him personally, and on behalf of a grateful state."

And U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree said: "For years, Pat has been a steadfast champion for Maine's fisheries, working tirelessly to support our coastal communities and preserve our heritage industries. His unwavering dedication to protecting Maine's lobster industry from unnecessary regulatory burdens has been invaluable, ensuring that generations of lobstermen can continue this proud tradition. I am deeply grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in this next chapter."

Others also spoke highly of Keliher.

"For decades, Pat Keliher has been a driving force in the sustainable management of Atlantic coastal fisheries," said Robert Beal, Executive Director of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. "From 2017 to 2021, he served as the Commission Vice-Chair and Chair providing thoughtful and steadfast leadership during the difficult COVID pandemic. Pat led the charge to shift from in-person meetings to virtual meetings, allowing the Commission's management programs to stay on course. Additionally, he oversaw the Commission's disbursement of hundreds of millions of dollars to fishery participants through the CARES Act, enabling the fishing industry to stay afloat during the pandemic. At the management board level, Pat consistently found practical solutions to the complex management issues. I am indebted to Pat for his unwavering support of the Commission, his sound advice, and his commitment to the sustainable management of fishery resources for the benefit of this generation and those to come."

"I can't think of a more challenging job than serving as Maine's top fisheries regulator," said Patrice McCarron, Executive Director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association. "Commissioner Keliher guided the Maine lobster industry through some of its toughest times. Though we didn't always agree, he made the effort to listen, engage in conversation, and always had the industry's best interests at heart. This was especially evident in 2022 when the DMR whole-heartedly backed the MLA's court case against the National Marine Fisheries Service to challenge whale regulations that would have decimated our industry. Together, we achieved a historic victory. Our collaboration also helped secure a significant law in Congress that protected Maine's lobster industry from being shut down by federal whale rules. The MLA is grateful for the Commissioner's dedication to ensuring a future for Maine lobstermen today and in the future."

"Very few people understand the level of dedication, hard work and personal sacrifice Commissioner Keliher has given to this state," said Sebastian Belle, Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association. "His tireless determination to professionally represent the interests of our state's public resources and working waterfront communities established the highest standards of public service. We have been lucky to have him, and he will be sorely missed."

"Pat has always treated me with respect for my opinions on different fisheries management decisions I had made over 9 years I represented the State of Maine as a New England Fisheries Management Council member," said Maine fisherman Terry Alexander. "I looked to Pat through those years as a trusted advisors that would let me know if and why he thought I was wrong. I'm human so sometimes I would listen and sometimes I wouldn't, but I could always count on him for good solid fisheries management advice. Even to this day I look to him to advise me and still will even after he retires whether he likes it or not. Whoever replaces him I hope they keep those lines of communication open to all sides like he has. It makes for good solid management decisions the DMR has to make every day."

"While we are a single industry, the lobster fishery is made up of over 5000 individuals, each with their own experiences and perspective," said David Cousens, lobsterman and former President of the Maine Lobstermen's Association. "Pat has always been able to meet fishermen on their own terms, listen to what they have to say, and find a way forward. He understands the culture of the fishery and its importance to both individual families and communities all along the coast. No one knows better than me that you'll never get everyone to agree, so you have to be guided by what will protect and sustain this resource for future generations. During our many years working together, I have always trusted Pat to take the long view, and to make the difficult decisions with the industry's best interests at heart."

"Commissioner Pat Keliher's dedication to improving the health and vitality of the Gulf of Maine and the waters that sustain it is truly unmatched," said Kate Dempsey, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Maine."I have had the privilege of working with Pat for the past twenty years, and I've seen firsthand how he has made Maine a national leader in restoring sea-run fish in ways that support the thriving communities that depend on them. Whether he was leading the Atlantic Salmon Commission's efforts to conserve the Machias River and Lakes, promoting the restoration of the Penobscot River at DMR's Division of Sea-Run Fish, or championing working waterfronts as Commissioner and chair of the Land for Maine's Future Program, at every turn Pat has used his integrity, ingenuity, and leadership to leave Maine better than he found it."

"Commissioner Keliher has been a tireless champion for the Maine lobster fishery," said Luke Holden, Founder and CEO of Luke's Lobster. "The amount of change and threat to our heritage industry over the last five years has been tremendous and throughout it all the Commissioner has stood up for and defended the long-term health and sustainability of our fishery and industry. On behalf of my business, which includes my dad who held the very first lobster processing license in the state of Maine, we would like to thank the Commissioner for his nearly 15 years of service and for leaving the department in a better place than he found it."

"Commissioner Keliher has been a strong advocate for sea-run fish restoration over his entire career," said John Burrows, Vice President of U.S. Operations for the Atlantic Salmon Federation. "His support for the conservation and recovery of wild Atlantic salmon, alewives, American shad, American eel, and other species has helped us to reverse centuries of declining numbers of these fish. Runs of alewives and blueback herring returning to Maine's rivers now number in the tens of millions each year, and the economic and ecological impact of this resurgence extends far across the Gulf of Maine. Pat's vision and leadership have been instrumental in this remarkable success story."

"Pat has demonstrated an amazing ability to get things done at both the state and federal level," said Peter Fallon, President of the Maine Association of Charterboat Captains. "He always claims he's not a politician but in fact he is a really good one -- in the best sense of the word. He understands how processes work and builds relationships with people that have allowed him to be an incredibly effective advocate for our fisheries."

Accomplishments during Commissioner Keliher's tenure include:

• Strengthening Maine's Commercial Fisheries — Lobster is Maine's highest value fishery, and since Commissioner Keliher took office in 2012, the value paid to Maine's lobstermen has increased by over $120 million. Other Maine fisheries provide important seasonal income, and under his leadership the Department has enhanced these opportunities and provided for expanded participation. Through improved management, including the use of rotational closures, limited access areas, and emergency rulemaking, Maine's scallop fishery has steadily increased in value and landed volume.Scallop harvesters earned an additional six million dollars at the dock in 2023 compared to 2012, on the strength of landings that more than doubled. A license lottery launched in 2019 provided an opportunity for new harvesters to enter this important winter fishery.
  
  
• Restoring Habitats and Fish Passage —  Commissioner Keliher has secured significant funding and formed strategic partnerships with organizations and Maine communities in successful efforts to restore passage for sea-run fish species, including the iconic Atlantic salmon.Keliher was the State lead on raising public funds for the Penobscot River Restoration Project, one of the largest multi dam removal projects in the country. The Department has also raised over $40 million in restoration funds for projects on the St. Croix River, which has the potential to produce the most significant river herring population in the United States. The department received much-need funding through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to kickstart projects throughout the state that will restore access to vital habitat for sea run species.
  
  
• Protecting Maine's Working Waterfronts — As Chair of the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) board for the past decade, Commissioner Keliher has overseen the administration of funding which has protected dozens of properties, including many working waterfront sites, that are vital to our state's economy. Under Keliher's leadership, in 2024, DMR worked with the Department of Transportation to administer $21.2 million in grants from the Working Waterfront Resilience Grant Program to help 68 wharf and pier owners rebuild from damage caused by January 2024 storms. The funds, which were authorized by the Legislature, represented the single largest investment in storm recovery in Maine history.
  
  
• Advocating for Maine — Commissioner Keliher has worked closely with the Maine delegation during his tenure to promote stability in federal funding lines that support critical fishery monitoring and assessment needs in Maine. In 2022, Commissioner Keliher led efforts with Maine's congressional delegation to secure a six-year pause on federal whale regulations and to provide $26 million in federal funds that supported the establishment of a marine mammal research and assessment team at DMR to gather needed data on the presence of whales in the Gulf of Maine. The goal of this effort is to protect both Maine's billion-dollar lobster industry and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
  
  
• Advancing Responsible Policy — During Commissioner Keliher's tenure, the Department has enjoyed a cooperative relationship with the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee, which has supported DMR's pragmatic, nonpartisan, problem-solving approach to legislation. In 2017, under Commissioner Keliher's leadership, DMR advanced a bill to strengthen enforcement of Maine's lobster laws, reflecting the importance of the state's most valuable fishery. During his tenure at DMR, Keliher oversaw the implementation of the state's first quota system for Maine's lucrative elver fishery, which has not only helped the state sustain the resource and protect Maine elver harvesters' access to the quota, but also significantly reduced the incidents of illegal harvesting, which declined by 92% in the first year of the system's implementation.
• Expanding Fishing Opportunity and Diversification — In 2022, the State was able to achieve a major increase in menhaden quota, from 2 million pounds to more than 24 million pounds. That 10-fold increase in state quota has provided both menhaden and lobster harvesters in Maine with much-needed certainty in their ability to harvest and source bait. In 2014, DMR's Public Health Bureau began using a new method, known as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), to test for biotoxins in shellfish, which significantly improved the timeline to obtain test results and maximizes harvest opportunities for both wild harvest shellfish fisheries and the growing aquaculture sector. The state has also seen tremendous growth in the aquaculture sector, which provides an important diversification opportunity for those working on the water.
  
  
• Bolstering the Marine Economy in Times of Crisis — DMR has served a critical role in helping to ensure the survival of Maine's marine economy through resource declines and economic shocks, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. DMR has administered over $40 million in disaster relief funds in the last decade, including direct relief payments;infrastructure investments in private seafood dealers, processors and marine suppliers; investments in infrastructure of statewide importance, such as the Portland Fish Exchange and Fish Pier; and license cost reimbursements.
  
  
• Upgrading Marine Resource Enforcement Assets — The Department's Bureau of Marine Patrol has made steady progress upgrading the patrol vessel fleet during the Commissioner's tenure. Since February 2014, the Bureau has replaced four large patrol vessels, added two midrange patrol vessels, replaced four small patrol vessels, added a new dive boat, and replaced the Bureau's fixed wing amphibious aircraft. These accomplishments have enhanced Marine Patrol's ability to investigate and patrol marine resource activities at sea and have provided more capable and safe platforms for officers to respond to maritime emergencies and searches.

During his tenure, Commissioner Keliher served as Chair of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, as well as ASMFC's Lobster Management Board; as a member of the New England Fisheries Management Councill; as a member of the Board of the Finance Authority of Maine; and as Chair of the Land's for Maine's Future program.

In 2014, President Obama appointed him the non-federal Commissioner of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. That same year the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center honored him with a Distinguished Maine Policy Fellowship for his extensive work in marine resources policy development.

Prior to serving as Commissioner, Keliher worked as a registered Maine hunting guide and charter boat captain. He also served as Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maine, as Executive Director of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, and as Director of DMR's Sea-Run Fisheries Bureau.