At the beginning of the month, several Island Institute team members attended the National Working Waterfront Network Conference in San Diego. In addition to connecting with experts from across the country, they shared the groundbreaking work Island Institute is doing to keep Maine’s working waterfronts and marine economy ahead of the curve. Our crew presented on efforts like marine decarbonization, storm preparedness, and greenhouse gas assessments in the seafood industry, all while learning fresh ways to drive progress and continue supporting Maine’s working waterfronts.
We asked our team to reflect on the experience. Here’s some of what they shared:
Dr. Jennifer Seavey, Chief Programs Officer
The National Working Waterfront Conference was a great opportunity to gather the national perspective on challenges and opportunities in working waterfronts. I was proud to hear that Maine is considered a leader in this sector––especially in protection and support for fishing communities. Frequently discussed challenges for all coasts included the impact of housing shortages and increased storm activity on the marine economy. Also, aquaculture is viewed around the country as a positive force.
I was personally struck by the diversity of most fishing fleets across the country as compared to Maine, which makes Island Institute’s dedication to supporting revenue diversification in our state even more important.
Phoebe Walsh, Community Development Officer
The [conference] was an excellent chance to reflect on our work in Maine by situating it in the national context. While the scale of infrastructure, funding, and climate impacts vary, all working waterfronts share similar challenges and opportunities. Major themes I noticed included climate change adaptation, decarbonization, and the need for robust infrastructure to support electrification.
One panelist summed it up, saying “it takes green to go green.” This sentiment resonated amid discussions on changing federal funding. Our efforts at Island Institute focus on ‘setting the table’ because all aspects of electrification must be addressed in tandem.
Lia Morris, Senior Community Development Officer 
I was thrilled to be part of a panel that shared insights from pioneering projects that are advancing maritime electrification across the country. The ecosystem of partners working on the front-edge of electric/hybrid-electric marine propulsion is scattered across the country and the world, so to all be in the same room was so fun!
The panel explored commercial electric and hybrid propulsion initiatives for workboats and fishing vessels, while providing practical guidance on grant programs, financing opportunities, and successful public-private partnerships. Collectively, we highlighted the critical need for understanding power infrastructure to support the maritime sector’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Sam Feldman, Community Development Officer
I was struck by how similar our working waterfront challenges in Maine are to those around the country. Regardless of region or scale, working waterfront communities are making tough choices about how to preserve their livelihoods in the face of other economic development opportunities. Additionally, ports of all sizes are struggling financially to keep up with maintenance for existing structures. Innovations in infrastructure and electrification are being discussed at a time when, in some cases, even cataloging what currently exists on the coast is a challenge. Despite all of that, each person I heard speak shared an undercurrent of hope driving their work.
