Burnt Coat Harbor Light on Swan's Island. PHOTO: COURTESY HARBORVIEW STUDIO

Working Waterfront

Light station restoration complete on Swan’s Island

After some 15 years of planning, fund raising, volunteer and preservation work by dozens of contractors, the town of Swan’s Island has completed the restoration of the Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station. There are four historic buildings at the light station—the light tower, the keeper’s house, the oil house and… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Roque Bluffs State Park adds island

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has announced that the Bureau of Parks and Lands has acquired Pond Cove Island. The 50-acre Pond Cove Island, located in Englishman Bay in Washington County, will be added to Roque Bluffs State Park. The island is located roughly a third of… SEE MORE

Environment

Maine's congressional delegation (from left, Jared Golden, Chellie Pingee, and from right, Angus King and Susan Collins, flank Gov. Janet Mills.

Working Waterfront

Collins secures funding for lobster industry

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured $15 million in the draft fiscal year 2022 commerce, justice, and science appropriations bill to support Maine’s lobster industry. The bill must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House. Collins released the following… SEE MORE

Fishermen pull their traps for the season off South Portland in October. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Casco Bay: Warmer, saltier

Casco Bay is talking to us, but do we know what message it is sending? Last month, Friends of Casco Bay scientist Mike Doan and Casco Baykeeper Ivy Frignoca gave some answers to that question in a remote presentation to about 100 participants concerned about the health of the vast… SEE MORE

A photographic rendering of what Nordic Aquafarms' Belfast facility would look like.

Working Waterfront

Fish-farm opponents distort facts

The November issue of The Working Waterfront featured a misleading opinion column by John Krueger, an activist from Upstream Watch, a group opposing plans by Nordic Aquafarms to build a salmon growing facility in Belfast. As with his previous efforts, Krueger’s storytelling is deceptive and designed to fit his activist… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Reflections on the spirit of winter

Winter: Notes and Numina from the Maine Woods By Dana Wilde, North Country Press 2021 Review by Dave Morrison While on a morning walk one early December, author Dana Wilde grew disoriented, unmoored in the season and the day. The low-slung sun and long shadows played tricks with his perception—day… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Island Institute opposes American Aquafarms permit

My name is Tony Chatwin. I am the president of the Island Institute. For the reasons set forth below, I am offering this testimony on behalf of the Island Institute in opposition to the proposed waste discharge permit application for the American Aquafarms project. The Island Institute is a 38-year-old… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Salmon farm would be environmental disaster

It’s been a year since American Aquafarms—a Norwegian firm backed by speculators that is American in name only—announced plans for a massive industrial salmon farm in Frenchman Bay, right next to Acadia National Park. Longtime Sorrento lobsterman James West spoke for all who oppose this project when he stated recently:… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

For Maine, here comes the sun

Maine’s climate goals are to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. The residential sector accounts for the second-highest source of emissions in Maine (after transportation), making up almost 20 percent of the state’s carbon pollution. Solar power is one of many options… SEE MORE

The steamship “Victorian” is in front of the Taku Glacier in 1900.

Working Waterfront

Why thawing permafrost matters to Maine

As I sit watching the moon rise above the Alaskan skyline and mighty Taku Glacier, I can’t help but wonder how many years into the future this great ice mass will remain. Recent research suggests up to 60 percent of Taku will be gone in the next century if our climate… SEE MORE