In The News

“This fundraiser has helped us a lot,” Boatworks Director Tony Archino told the group before they headed out, “but even more importantly, it gets more people involved with and connected to what we do.” One of the boats, rowed by Gretchen Blank, was outfitted with a special camera recording footage for a virtual reality project, a collaborative effort of the Island Institute, the Camden International Film Festival and Big Room Studios.

"The data portal has maps that paint a detailed picture of other fisheries, with current and historical views of the number of fishermen who work any given area for each species of groundfish and how much they are catching in each area. But the information about lobstering is limited to a few lobster biomass maps and management area maps.

In the current Volume 32 of Island Journal, I really loved the story by Scott Sell, “One Deer, Two Islands,” about deer hunting on Frenchboro. Here’s how it begins: “Zack Lunt’s hands are covered in blood and bile and fur. ‘The fun part is over for me,’ he says, midway through field-dressing the buck he just shot. ‘It’s all work from here on out.” Boy, he got that right!

"Ziegler said Islesboro’s strategy to build the municipal broadband network is unique and unlikely to be duplicated by mainland communities. A report issued in December by the Island Institute suggested that other island communities could benefit by increased broadband adoption, because the technology would lead to new jobs and economic activity."

Maine’s outer islands are famed for their close-knit communities and heritage of storytelling. Figures of Speech Theatre partnered with the Island Institute and the residents of Maine’s outer islands to bring some of these narratives to life using shadow puppets captured on film.

A regional planning group issued a sweeping ecosystem-based ocean draft plan Wednesday to guide federal agencies in New England. The plan also points out surprising gaps in data, such as how and where lobstermen fish along the sprawling New England coast, even though the fishery is central to the economic health of coastline communities and New England states, especially in Maine, and subject to the impact of development and climate change. Nick Battista, the marine programs director at Island Institute in Rockland, said lobstermen should be involved in decisions that could impact their coast.

Nonprofit organizations like the Island Institute are not exempt from the pressures of the bottom line. In fact, we are just as mindful of budgets as for-profit businesses because we are funded by finite sources — grants and donations — and can't count on an uptick in sales to provide a cushion. But despite fiscal constraints — or maybe in part because of them — the Island Institute recently adopted a new policy for our employees. Beginning this month, we will give our staff 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

"Strong working waterfronts are critical to the future of Maine's fishing communities and marine economy. Maine has less than 20 miles of working waterfront along our 3,500-mile coastline," said Nick Battista, Marine Programs Director at the Island Institute.

...“I called probably a couple dozen island artists and said, what do you need from the Institute, what are we missing here? And they said, 'Oh gosh, I really need to know about pricing,' or 'I could use some support on how to make a show booth.' So, we said, OK, we’ll do it,” Vietze said. The rise of the Internet and attendant websites and social media has given island artists and makers, as well as those in remote mainland communities, a way to get their work out to the world.

By Kay Stephens / Penobscot Bay Pilot BELFAST — In recent years, the Midcoast has seen a number of events and conferences dedicated to uplifting those in the arts and creative economy and on April 1, Archipelago, retail side of the Island Institute, is bringing together artists and makers from around the state for a one-day event to offer networking, and practical tips and strategies to help people grow their small business.