Sam Feldman, a community development officer at Island Institute, traveled to Portugal to learn from the world’s leading experts on kelp cultivation and restoration. He shares his reflections on how this knowledge can shape Maine’s marine ecosystems and economy.
Category: Blog
When the Boats Come In
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Senior community development officer Christa Thorpe reflects on the launch of Fishing Plus—a new business accelerator program designed for a cohort of lobstermen, crew members, and their families to build or grow side and second businesses.
The Steward of the Intertidal
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Kate Cart, the new Island Institute Fellow based in Phippsburg, shares lessons learnt from a day spent on the water with a local clammer. She reflects on environmental change, science communication, and the deep wealth of wisdom that harvesters possess.
Day in Community: Sam Feldman, Oyster Farm Tour
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Join Island Institute community development officer and former oyster farm manager, Sam Feldman, for a day in his life hosting a tour of an oyster farm on Casco Bay, Maine.
Meet the New Island Institute Fellows
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
“We’ve seen an increase in fellowship applicants with interest and studies in municipal planning and marine policy. It’s exciting to see new energy in these areas adding to the momentum of town and island projects,” shared Lisa Millette who leads Island Institute’s fellowship program, “and not only from Fellows coming out of their undergraduate degrees, but also those looking for a career transition.”
Island Institute and Maine Center for Entrepreneurs Partner to Launch First-Ever Accelerator Program for Lobster Fishing Families
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Island Institute is teaming up with the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs to launch the Fishing Plus Accelerator, a program for fishing families to explore new business opportunities to diversify their income in the face of climate and industry changes.
Investing in Resilience
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Rising costs, environmental changes, and shifting markets are reshaping the backbone of Maine’s marine economy: the lobster industry. Island Institute is working with fishing families to navigate these challenges by supporting small business diversification to create new sources of income.
Day in Community: Jack Sullivan, Multimedia Storytelling
Posted by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.
Join Island Institute’s multimedia storyteller, Jack Sullivan, for a day in his life of filming in Boothbay Harbor with the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Telling Our Own Story
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Folks from across Maine’s fishing communities gathered in Stonington for a train-the-trainer workshop co-hosted by the Island Institute. The objective: to prepare trusted local volunteers to support harvesters as they navigate new digital landings reporting requirements in the lobster industry.
Takeaways From the Forefront of Energy Innovation
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
At the beginning of the month, several Island Institute team members attended a workshop put on by the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado. They share what they learned at the workshop, both from partner organizations and new energy systems.
