Working Waterfront

Wet feet in problematic places

The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World By Jeff Goodell Reviewed by David Platt We live on a tidal river in southern Maine, on the western side of the Gulf of Maine. We rebuilt our dock a decade ago, raising it a few… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Contrary survey results are puzzling scientists

By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. Given the talk on the wharves all year, it was no surprise to hear the official 2017 numbers on Maine’s lobster fishery—110.8 million pounds with a value of $433.8 million, down nearly 22 million pounds from 2016. With this large… SEE MORE

Passengers disembark from the Islesboro ferry.

Working Waterfront

Ferry service impacted with rising emergency trips

The state ferry service is concerned about a recent trend in which more emergency boat trips are made from the islands to the mainland, disrupting scheduled trips. At its March 1 meeting in Rockland, the ferry advisory board learned from ferry service manager Mark Higgins that statistics from the last… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

No car ferry dramatically changes the nature of unloading

Picture an average day, doing errands. Maybe you have a dentist appointment and will receive that complimentary little bag with a toothbrush, paste, and floss inside. You might then head over to the drug store for a few health and beauty aids, toss that bag in the car and move… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Estuary Beat: Flooding, fish migration, and salt marsh restoration

Nor’easter brings more flooding, damage to coast A northeasterly storm in early March brought another spate of flooding and damaging waves to Maine bays and estuaries. For three days, heavy winds pushed lunar high tides into roadways and parking lots. Along Saco Bay, water was knee-deep in Camp Ellis, a… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

No benefits to Maine for allowing offshore drilling

By Kristin Jackson It’s no secret that Mainers rely on the ocean. Whether it’s our lobstermen hauling traps, our seaside inns welcoming guests, or our families visiting the shore, our legendary coastline and clean and healthy ocean drive our economy and way of life. No wonder Mainers from all walks… SEE MORE

A right whale entangled by fishing gear in Canadian waters.

Working Waterfront

When right whales die, lobstermen get nervous

Seventeen endangered North Atlantic right whales died in Canadian and U.S. waters in 2017. Now scientists are saying the increase in deaths and decrease of calving rates could mean the species’ “functional” extinction in just over 20 years. The situation is alarming Maine’s lobster fishermen, because some of the deaths… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Expanding economy forces the question: Who do we want to be?

In September, we’ll mark the ten-year anniversary of a frightening moment in our country’s history. Just weeks before the presidential election that saw Barack Obama defeat John McCain, George W. Bush’s treasury secretary reported that the U.S. banking system was on the brink of collapse. A bail-out was approved by… SEE MORE

An aerial view of Washburn & Doughty in East Boothbay.

Working Waterfront

Washburn & Doughty wins ferry bid

Maine’s Department of Transportation has awarded the contract for a new ferry to Washburn & Doughty of East Boothbay. The company was one of five bidders for the 154-foot passenger-vehicle ferry, and the only Maine-based company. The state had estimated the cost of the new vessel at $12 million, but… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

House Island’s history: Fort, immigrants, bootleggers

House Island in Portland Harbor is, and has been, many things: an early European fish station, site of an early 19th century fort, a quarantine facility in the early 20th century. Today, developers are moving toward using the southwestern portion of the 24-acre island for a luxurious camping experience. The… SEE MORE