Working Waterfront

Three takes on making connections

A letter recently landed on my desk from a reader of The Working Waterfront. The man, who lives in New Harbor, receives the newspaper in his mailbox; we mail the paper to everyone on Maine’s 15 year-round islands, as well to all of Mount Desert Island, the Blue Hill-Stonington peninsula,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Island mud inspires Vinalhaven man’s skin-care business

Inspired by the natural resources of his island home, Vinalhaven’s Willie Drury has launched a line of skin care products he’s calling Maine Magic Mud. Drury, 25, returned home after graduating college with a plan to go fishing. He had always been interested in starting a business, but didn't know… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Portland pub owners recognized for Casco Bay advocacy

Rick Frantz and Jennifer Fox are part of Portland’s vibrant waterfront scene. They own Andy’s Old Port Pub on Commercial Street, and they take the ferry home each night to Great Diamond Island. Casco Bay is literally their backyard. On Jan. 23, as more than 125 volunteers and supporters of Friends of Casco… SEE MORE

A tender carries passengers back to their cruise ship from Bar Harbor's town landing.

Working Waterfront

Bar Harbor residents to consider purchasing former ferry site

In June, Bar Harbor voters will be asked if they want to purchase the former ferry terminal from the Maine Department of Transportation for $3.5 million. If they decide to buy it, they’ll then have to decide what to do with it. After public hearings, the town council’s Ferry Terminal… SEE MORE

Lobster boats docked inside Eastport’s breakwater. Lobstermen throughout Maine now face a trade hurdle their Canadian counterparts do not.

Working Waterfront

Canada’s trade deal with EU is hurting Maine lobster

Fears are mounting that the state’s lobster industry might become collateral damage in conflict sparked by the Trump administration’s distrust of free trade agreements. In recent years, Maine lobster exporters have established new international markets, thanks in part to several free trade pacts between the U.S. and other nations. But… SEE MORE

A saltwater marsh like this one help absorb storm surge and provide wildlife habitat.

Working Waterfront

Maine’s salt marshes are disappearing

Salt marshes are disappearing. Scientists, who say these tidal wetlands are critical components of coastal environments, have been sounding the alarm for years. Salt marshes purify water, protect coastal infrastructure from storm surges, are nurseries for juvenile fish and shellfish, and provide important habitat for rare plants and coastal birds. They also link… SEE MORE

A scallop dragger at its mooring on a cold

Working Waterfront

DEP program helps fishermen, boatyards pay for new engines

It’s not every day the government pays for nearly half of a new engine for a commercial boat, but that’s the case for owners of some vessels. Since 2009, over 100 fishing boats, schooners, ferries, whale watch boats, and even a tug boat have been repowered with grants from the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Free film, panel event: Plastics are ‘The Smog of the Sea’

The documentary film The Smog of the Sea chronicles a one-week journey of citizen scientists on a mission to assess the fate of plastics in the world’s oceans. The film will be screened for free at the Lincoln Theater on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. Tickets, which are free and required are available… SEE MORE

Workers harvest mussels at a aquaculture operation in Southern Maine.

Working Waterfront

Aquaculture, seafood processors share $1.7 million in grants

The Maine Technology Institute and Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy have awarded eight grants to projects ranging from value-added seafood processing to seaweed aquaculture to shellfish aquaculture. The grant winners cover the coast from York to Washington counties. The marine economy grants and cluster initiative programs are financed by the… SEE MORE

Marine patrol officers Jonathan Varnum (left) and Alex Hebert (right) pose with Col. Jonathan Cornish after graduating from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on Dec. 15. Having previously completed the academy's pre-service program

Working Waterfront

Two marine patrol officers complete training