EXCLUSIVE: Maine fish boss, under fire, quits

By Ted Cohen/Patch.com

Just weeks after telling a fisherman to “f off” at a public meeting Maine's marine resources commissioner is retiring.

Gov. Janet Mills announced Patrick Keliher's retirement with no mention of the recent shocking profane exchange.

Keliher, who has served in the position since 2012, is the longest-serving commissioner in the history of the Department of Marine Resources. He will retire March 14.

“Commissioner Keliher has served this administration and the people of Maine with great distinction,” Mills gushed.

The governor clearly was aware of - but chose to ignore - the profane exchange between the commissioner and a fisherman at a recent public hearing held to discuss minimum lobster sizes.

Keliher’s blast of obscenity on Jan. 9 happened on the same day the Department of Marine Resources withdrew a proposed rule to increase the minimum size requirements for lobsters to be caught in Maine.

“I think this is the right thing to do because the future of the industry is at stake for a lot of different reasons,” Keliher said during the meeting.

Then there was some chaotic crosstalk from the crowd and Keliher can be heard instructing the group to listen to him.

A lobsterman then yelled, “We don’t have to listen to you. You sold out to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Canada. Why do we have to listen to you?”

“F*** you I sold out,” Keliher yelled back at the man.

“That’s nice. Foul language in the meeting. Good for you. That’s our commissioner,” the lobsterman shouted back.

Keliher took a day to decide he should apologize, saying on Jan. 10 he was sorry if he offended anybody.