Working Waterfront

Coastal cleanup returns

The Maine Coastal Program, a division of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), has opened registration for the annual Coastal Cleanup, a volunteer-driven initiative designed to clean debris from shores and waterfront communities. Part of the International Coastal Cleanup, Maine’s Coastal Cleanup will run from Sept. 7-21. Anyone who wishes… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

State awards $21.2 million in resilience grants

Sixty-eight Maine working waterfronts will receive $21.2 million in resilience grants from the state to support recovery and rebuilding from damage caused by devastating storms this past winter. The Working Waterfront Resilience Grant Program is funded with $60 million in state funding authorized through the supplemental budget in May— the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine photographer dives into Gulf of Maine

Brian Skerry has traveled the globe for decades taking photos and videos of ocean ecosystems off all seven continents. His latest project took him to the waters of his own backyard—the Gulf of Maine—where as a child he discovered his love for the sea. The result is a three-part series… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bill would offer tax credits to working waterfronts

U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Bill Cassidy, R-La. are introducing legislation to offer a disaster mitigation tax credit to working waterfronts located on coasts and navigable waterways. The Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act would provide working waterfronts with a 30% tax credit on up to $1 million… SEE MORE

The January storms devastated the Rockland waterfront. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Planning for a stormy future pays off

Some local leaders are crediting municipal sea level rise and climate resilence committees for giving their communities a head start in the race for millions of federal, state, and private dollars that are now heading for Maine’s coast. “It’s really important to have this town infrastructure in place,” said Bill… SEE MORE

Fishermen return to the dock in Belfast after catching menhaden, also known as pogies. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Small fish, big role

In 2021, Maine’s commercial harvesters landed 22.1 million pounds valued at $9.5 million (Maine Department of Marine Resources data). SEE MORE

Skippers students participate in aquaculture research counting scallops in spat bags. The enthusiasm of the students for this hands-on research is obvious.

Working Waterfront

Skippers program keeps school part of marine careers

Typically, students participate for one year, learning hands-on skills that will help them with present and future maritime careers. Although each program creates its own curriculum, the emphasis is on creating exciting opportunities that meet the needs of the community and students. SEE MORE

Barry Goodell examines a piece of wood that was attacked by shipworms in 2022. PHOTO: JODY JELLISON

Working Waterfront

Study uncovers history of shipworm damage

For thousands of years, shipworms—a family of mollusks found in oceans—sank wooden vessels, ravaged wharfs, and shipwrecked sailors. They even devastated the Spanish Armada in the 16th century. Exactly how they have been able to wreak such havoc has remained a mystery, until now. A new study published in the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Winter storms highlight value of Sunrise Trail

DOT bid the work May 8 and awarded it six days later to Hanscom Construction of Marshfield for $438,975. Using the finesse required to navigate massive dump trucks safely along a waterside rail bed, and despite tidal delays, Hanscom completed the work more than two weeks ahead of schedule, on June 7. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lobster Institute names new director

Since 1987 the Lobster Institute has been a center of discovery, innovation and outreach at UMaine with the goal of promoting, conducting, and communicating research focused on the sustainability of the American lobster fishery in the U.S. and Canada. SEE MORE