Working Waterfront

A vision for Maine’s marine economy

Five years ago, a group of people committed to the future of Maine’s marine economy embarked on an ambitious journey to develop an economic development roadmap for Maine’s marine living resources, or MLR. I was part of this group, and MLR was our shorthand for an extensive set of activities,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

New life for the last sardine cannery

Editor’s note: Jacqueline Weaver serves on Gouldsboro’s select board. When the auctioneer announced the new owners of the former Stinson sardine cannery in the Gouldsboro village of Prospect Harbor, the business partners had a deer-in-the-headlights look. They had just spent more than $1 million (price, plus outstanding liens) for the… SEE MORE

The Fox Island Wind turbines, located on Vinalhaven, appear closer to the shore than they actually are in this image, shot with a telephoto lens. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Island wind power succeeded on cost

Fifteen years after its spinning blades began generating electricity, the Fox Islands Wind project succeeded in saving islanders money. In fact, customers on the islands it serves—Vinalhaven and North Haven—have paid less for electricity than their mainland counterparts in the first decade of operation. But challenges loom, including the aging… SEE MORE

A Maine State Ferry Service boat near the Rockland terminal. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Ferry service proposes higher fares

The Maine State Ferry Service is proposing a 18.3% hike in ferry passenger and vehicle fares, citing inflation’s impact on wages, fuel, and vessel repairs. A fare hike was adopted in 2019, finalized only after significant opposition from residents of some the islands that faced especially high fare adjustments. The… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Offshore wind threatens centuries of fishing

The New England electric grid—ISO New England—has a website that includes a display featuring two pie charts that show where our electricity is coming from, updated in real time. Right now, “renewables” are at 7% of our total energy mix. Wind is 28% of that 7%, solar is 10% of… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Newfoundland, Maine share maritime past

Today’s Newfoundland seems prosperous in comparison to Maine. There are no mobile homes and every house, every shed, and even every doghouse is clad in vinyl siding. SEE MORE

A man walks away from the storm-damaged Rockland waterfront on Jan. 9. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Waterfront access jeopardized by storms

The challenges of maintaining working waterfront access was the topic of a discussion at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on March 2, scheduled well before the January storms that pummeled the Maine coast. And that was appropriate, given the shrinking footprint the marine economy faces. But a panel discussion on the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Finding the essence of the Lost Kitchen

Big Heart Little Stove: Bringing Home Meals & Moments From The Lost Kitchen By Erin French (with Rachel Holtzman); Celadon Books, 2023. I think it’s safe to say, at least in Maine and for her many fans, Erin French is considered something of a treasure. She has put a spotlight… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The storm damage we cannot see

Almost two months after the January storms pummeled the Maine coast, we are still piecing together a full picture of the destruction. In the direct aftermath, of course, communities could document buildings now angled slightly off their foundations or entirely set adrift, pilings separated from their pins, and beaches and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Coastal real estate prices rise like the sea

Compared to the rest of the Northeast, housing in Maine looks like a bargain. According to the Maine Real Estate Information System, the median sales price for a Maine home in 2023 was $353,000. For the Northeast as a whole, the fourth quarter 2023 median was $698,000, as reported online… SEE MORE