Southport Island’s Capt. Bruce White explains maritime tradition.

Working Waterfront

The truth about marine salvage

By Stephanie Bouchard With two October storms causing havoc across the state, but especially along the coast, a number of boat owners found their boats in trouble—sunk at their docks, broken free of their moorings, even too damaged to float on their own. They needed assistance with their boats, but… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fishermen’s group wants to raise mental health awareness

By Wanda Curtis The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association has won a $5,000 grant to promote mental health awareness in the commercial fishing industry. Monique Coombs, director of marine programs for the nonprofit, said the funds will be used to develop informational materials to assist commercial fishermen in managing stress, anxiety,… SEE MORE

A lobsterman and his young helper in the Fox Islands Thorofare.

Working Waterfront

Lobster science—last year was indeed strange

By Susie Arnold It was a strange year for the lobster fishery. In 2019, the scarcity of bait was a concern, and lobster landings were incredibly slow through the summer months. The July catch was the lowest recorded since at least 2008, the year the Department of Marine Resources began… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Which is more accurate—a mirror or a painting?

By Meghan Grabill When I moved here over a year ago, people asked me what connection I had to Maine. What brought me here? My response: I had visited once as a teenager on a family trip and when a job opportunity presented itself on the coast of Maine I… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Salmon listing didn’t cause sky to fall, but species still struggling

By Catherine Schmitt Twenty years have passed since Atlantic salmon became certified as an endangered species, according to federal law. Ed Baum was a salmon biologist with the state at the time—and is now retired—and he remembers the moment well. He remembers other moments, too, like the power of a… SEE MORE

Arrowsic's Sukey Heard greets the Island Institute's Nick Battista at the Jan. 30 event.

Working Waterfront

Four coastal communities land federal broadband funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $9.87 million investment in four infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-connectivity for 4,527 households and 215 businesses in rural Maine, part of the first round of USDA’s Reconnect Pilot Program. The announcement was made at the Arrowsic fire station on… SEE MORE

Kristan Porter heads out to one of his two boats.

Working Waterfront

Kristan Porter remains grounded as fisheries shift

By Laurie Schreiber//Photos by Leslie Bowman Anyone who’s been to any confab in the various Maine fisheries over the past couple of decades will likely recognize Kristan Porter—a steadfast presence and an articulate voice in the thorny world of management and policy. That’s true now more than ever, since he… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The census is coming… and why you should be counted

By Meghan Grabill It’s that time again. Ten years in the making. Data nerds, college students, genealogists, and trivia buffs everywhere are starting the countdown. The countdown to what? To the 2020 Decennial Census! For people who do not work with social and economic data, the census may seem dull. … SEE MORE

A view of part of Vinalhaven’s Main Street

Working Waterfront

Vinalhaven plans for downtown’s future

By Tom Groening Though it is 13 miles offshore, the island community of Vinalhaven functions much like a mainland coastal town. With a year-round population of 1,200, it is the most populous of Maine’s island communities, and it features a compact, attractive downtown. That downtown was the subject of community-wide… SEE MORE

Fishing boats at anchor in Lubec in January 2018.

Working Waterfront

Lubec lands major grant to create safe harbor

By Wanda Curtis The town of Lubec was awarded a $19,650,000 federal grant to provide a year-round safe harbor for resident and visiting fishermen and recreational boaters. The total cost of the project is estimated at $19,689,750, with the remainder of the cost paid for by a $30,000 grant from… SEE MORE