Working Waterfront

Fishermen report changes they’re seeing on the water

We conducted very random interviews with fishermen at the annual Maine Fishermen's Forum in March, asking them what evidence of climate changes they are seeing on the water. PHOTOS BY KELLI PARK Terry Alexander of Cundy’s Harbor fishes for groundfish and squid out of Boston. “Stuff’s shifting, for sure,” he… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Town meeting, painting lines, eating doughnuts, and throwing rocks

By Barbara Fernald Activity on the islands, at the end of February and into March, is like a mirror image of the action at the end of August into September. Just as the summer residents of the Cranberry Isles end their vacations right before fall, many year-round residents end their… SEE MORE

Ellen Cohill and Glen Charles outside Cohill's Pub and Inn in Lubec.

Working Waterfront

Bass Harbor Light will be transferred to National Park Service

By Laurie Schreiber Plans are in the works to transfer jurisdiction of the Bass Harbor Light Station from the U.S. Coast Guard to the National Park Service. The plan would include a provision that allows the coast guard to continue to access the light and maintain the mechanical connections for… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A fully engaging read on half-modeling

Half-Hull Modeling: Step-by-step companion, from plans to finished model By Greg Rossel/Greg Rossel Boat Carpentry Reviewed by David D. Platt We’ve all admired half-hull models of ships and small boats. Some of us have wondered why and for whom they were made. Still fewer of us have asked how this… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Luke’s Lobster offers e-commerce for seafood

Luke’s Lobster has launched an e-commerce platform to offer a number of Luke’s seafood products direct-to-consumer. See: https://lukeslobster.getbento.com/shop-lukes/ This addition comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic as most of Luke’s Lobster shacks nationwide have temporarily closed. In an effort to keep as many jobs as possible, and support its fishermen, Luke’s… SEE MORE

The Matanuska is designed to carry 450 passengers and has a vehicle capacity of approximately 83

Working Waterfront

Stranded: Alaskan islanders see sharp cuts to ferry service

By Ari Snider Even under normal circumstances, getting to and from Tenakee Springs, a small island town in Southeast Alaska, is no cakewalk. Alaska Seaplanes flies twice daily to Juneau, the capital city, but that’ll run you upwards of $300 roundtrip, and storms can ground planes for days or even… SEE MORE

An engineer's conception of floating wind turbines.

Working Waterfront

Offshore wind is back in motion

By Tom Groening The perception that Maine’s forays into offshore wind power have been on hold aren’t quite accurate, said Jake Ward of the University of Maine. Under the name New England Aqua Ventus I, the university is pursuing siting a floating wind turbine off Monhegan Island as a test… SEE MORE

One fishermen uses a skiff to tow a skiff with another fisherman in the Fox Islands Thorofare.

Working Waterfront

And the children shall lead them…

By Tom Groening About 15 minutes into his presentation at the annual meeting of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association during the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on March 6, U.S. Coast Guard Commander Jason Boyer began shedding his uniform. It wasn’t a strip tease, exactly, but it was a deliberately provocative move. When… SEE MORE

Marine

Working Waterfront

Focus and action during the pandemic

My recent conversations with local leaders reinforce the urgency with which I believe towns must act to secure the health, economic viability, and social fabric of their communities. One of the highest priorities is to ensure that children’s needs are met. In addition, there is a range of scenarios that… SEE MORE

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