CALAIS – The harvesting of commercial rockweed is prohibited on lands of the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, refuge officials said in a prepared release.

The Edmunds Division of the Refuge on Route 1, includes the Birch Islands, Hallowell Island, Dram Island and Burnt Island as well as 18-miles of shoreline on Cobscook Bay.

Refuge land along Cobscook Bay are situated along the following areas; Hobart Stream, Bellier Cove, Dennys Bay, Whiting Bay, Ox Cove, Young’s Cove and all of Cobscook Bay State Park.

“The ownership of most parcels of refuge land extends to the mean low water mark. Not all refuge holdings have been completely posted; however, it is the responsibility of rockweed harvesters to know the location of refuge lands, which are closed to the harvest of rockweed,” the release said.

All plants, animals and non-living objects on National Wildlife Refuges are protected and may not be taken or removed without permission.

Maps of refuge lands can be found at the following Web site: http://picard,fws.gov/refuge1/moosehorn/bnd/edmstatemap.pdf.