Working Waterfront

Canadians try their own alternative lobster bait

By William Hall While tariffs imposed by China are focusing international attention on the demand for lobster, Maine’s top export product, a forum April 5 in Portland focused international attention on what lobsters demand. Nearly 150 people attending the Canadian/U.S. Lobstermen’s Town Meeting discussed potential solutions to the region’s shortage… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Neighbors, town in stand-off in Machiasport over waterfront access

By Sarah Craighead Dedmon After a year spent finding $300,000 in funds, and securing voter approval and the signatures of 14 heirs, Machiasport selectman Jeff Davis thought the town was on its way to purchasing 37 acres to expand public access at Bucks Harbor, home port to more than 80… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Shellfish gets a closer look at fishermen’s forum

By Susie Arnold The first day of the annual Maine Fishermen's Forum, held in early March, is traditionally "Shellfish Day," focusing on Maine's bivalve fisheries. Presentations covering wild harvested bivalves and farmed shellfish yielded valuable insights. By commercial license numbers, the soft-shell clam is the state’s second largest fishery, following… SEE MORE

Josh Spearing looks at different kinds of PFDs

Working Waterfront

To PFD or not to PFD…

By Tom Groening//Photos by Kelli Park A quick, random survey of a half-dozen fishermen on their use of personal flotation devices, or PFDs, at the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport on March 1 led to a telling moment. Philip Donovan, 48, who lobsters out of Bass Harbor, acknowledged that… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

With herring decline, lobster industry looks at alternatives

By Laurie Schreiber Atlantic herring, a small fish known to school in the several billions, is a favorite bait of the lobster industry. They’re easy to catch. Lobsters love to eat them. But federal regulators have cut the herring catch quota by 70 percent for this year, in response to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

First forays with farmed scallops show promising future

By Laurie Schreiber Scallop farming in Maine has been in a long period of gestation. But after initial trials to market last year, it’s about ready to debut as a commercial venture. The young industry leverages technology transfers from counterparts in Japan. And a new analysis shows promising marketing potential… SEE MORE

Melinda Boumans now owns and operates Anderson Marine & Hardware.

Working Waterfront

Essential hardware: Gouldsboro marine store keeps waterfront working

By Tom Walsh Five years and 15,000 miles later, the changing of the guard at Anderson Marine & Hardware in seaside Gouldsboro has so far been smooth sailing. Nearly 70 years ago, Don Anderson began selling nuts and bolts, fishing vessel necessities, and basic fishing fleet supplies and began buying… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Waypoints Forum envisions a more welcoming, diverse Maine

By Tom Groening Despite being in the depths of winter—or maybe because of it—a Feb. 8 gathering in Portland saw a host of forward-looking ideas aired that may shape the Maine coast and islands through the next decade. The Waypoints Forum 2019, hosted by the Island Institute (publisher of The Working… SEE MORE

A dramatic image of a shipwreck from the Ed Coffin collection of photographs

Working Waterfront

From ‘cradle’ to ‘grave’: Mining the Ed Coffin Collection

One doesn’t have to be from Maine to become smitten with its maritime history. Ed Coffin’s collection of more than 2,500 photographs, compiled over a period of more than 60 years, is a testament to that. Coffin donated his photographic archive to the Penobscot Marine Museum in 2013 and it… SEE MORE

The Port of Galilee in Rhode Island is home to a thriving squid fishery

Working Waterfront

Gone squiddin’ in Galilee

By Ari Snider Capt. Kevin Jones has been fishing out of the Port of Galilee, in southern Rhode Island, for a long time. “You know, I’m 63, and I started going when I was six years old,” he said. As a kid growing up near one of Rhode Island’s busiest… SEE MORE