In June, Shareholder Rachael Becker McEntee traveled to San Diego to speak at RAStech 2025, the international conference for the recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) industry. Her presentation focused on Kingfish Maine’s permitting journey and the critical importance of assembling the right team.
Presenting on behalf of Bernstein Shur’s cross-practice legal team, Rachael shared how the firm worked alongside Kingfish Maine to secure a major legal and regulatory win. The project, a state-of-the-art land-based yellowtail farm in Jonesport, Maine, required careful navigation of complex permitting, public engagement, and ultimately, litigation. The victory was upheld by Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court, clearing the way for the project to move forward.
Rachael’s session, “Project permitting and public outreach – Kingfish Maine,” highlighted not only the technical permitting milestones, ranging from environmental assessments to stakeholder meetings, but also the human element behind a successful project.
“You want to bring in a team that is collaborative and willing to work—and wanting to work—with the community on the ground. This is not only to build the project, but also to find solutions for the inevitable issues that crop up that work for everyone,” Rachael shared.
Read more: RASTECH25: Factor community building into RAS growth – RASTECH MagazineRASTECH Magazine