Amanda Moeser of Lanes Island Oysters, who grows her oysters in the Royal River in Yarmouth. PHOTO: GRACE TERRY

Working Waterfront

Women moving into growing aquaculture sector

Libby Davis’s mobile raw bar, Lady Shuckers, was born from her desire to shuck oysters—and change the industry paradigm. “Being pushed enough to work harder and say, ‘Well, if you want to shuck, you got to be as good as the shuckers,’” Davis said, “who in my circle were all… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

New Mainers, ‘boomerangs’ reflect on choices

For years, Stephanie Pemberton and her husband discussed leaving Indiana, but weren’t sure where to go. That changed when Pemberton, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, accepted a three-month assignment at a Midcoast medical facility. “My husband and kids visited on Thanksgiving and we made the abrupt decision right then and there,”… SEE MORE

An aerial view of Bremen Community Shellfish, shot in September. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Maine’s blue economy threatened by loss of access

Persuading policy makers and residents of the value of Maine’s “blue economy” is easy, but if significant investment isn’t made in commercial access to the shore, that sector will languish, according to a report published late last year. “The Critical Nature of Maine’s Working Waterfronts and Access to the Shore”… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A how-to for environmental activism

Advocating for the Environment: How to Gather Your Power and Take Action By Sue Inches (2021) Review by Raina Sciocchetti “Try starting with one thing, and see where it leads” is Susan B. Inches’ advice for tackling environmental issues, whether you are a seasoned advocate or just beginning. Advocating for… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Seafood shrinking as world’s protein source

If we do not do something to counter pressure through consumption and illegal fishing, we will face a crisis in protein supply to feed the growing world population, an estimated 40 percent of whom today are reliant on seafood as their essential source of protein. We have exhausted certain areas,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Showing is telling: the Chesapeake’s island stories

Island Life By Jay Fleming (2021) Review by Jack Sullivan A photobook is typically conceived to be consumed lightly, making it a great candidate to present on the coffee table. While Annapolis photographer Jay Fleming’s new book Island Life is beautiful enough to earn a place on anyone’s coffee table,… SEE MORE

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