Working Waterfront

Rising seas will bring more frequent severe storms

By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. Sea level rise could bring startling and disturbing coastal changes to our coast, making our homes and communities uninhabitable. A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change projected that between 4.2 million and 13.1 million U.S. residents would… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Hinckley, Morris join forces

The Hinckley Company’s boatbuilding plant in Trenton was a hive of activity on a recent day, with 25 to 30 boats in different stages of production, from molding to sea trials. It’s a typical scene these days. “This is a new Talaria 43, a couple of months away from completion,”… SEE MORE

A depiction of the new version of The Cat

Working Waterfront

What ‘The Cat’ can do for Portland and Maine

Maine business and government officials are expecting The Cat—the new high-speed catamaran ferry service between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia—will deliver an economic boost when it begins service on June 15. “I expect it to attract a higher level of use than what we experienced with the Nova Star, and… SEE MORE

The former Verso paper mill in Bucksport is being dismantled and scrapped

Working Waterfront

Growing the ‘port’ in Bucksport could bring jobs

Not only did Bucksport lose the paper mill business and jobs that sustained its economy and tax base when Verso closed its operation there, but the mill itself—or at least most of the metal in the structures—will be scrapped and hauled away. Some might see that fate as cruel, adding… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Penobscot Watershed Conference underscores region’s impact

On the map of Maine, Penobscot Bay lies at the midpoint of the coast. It resembles a fulcrum on which the northern and southern halves pivot. On the map of the Penobscot watershed, which was used throughout the venue that hosted Penobscot Watershed Conference on April 9, the image looms… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lobstering offshore becoming attractive to some

A booming lobster resource, combined with a trend toward larger boats with more horsepower and the latest advances in navigational electronics, has an increasing number of Maine’s lobster fishermen leaving behind the crowded inshore fishing grounds and heading further offshore for a sustained, year-round harvest. “It’s something that’s been evolving… SEE MORE

The southern half of the Penobscot watershed.

Working Waterfront

Taking the long view means answering tough questions

“We will be the ancestors someday.” This truism came from Penobscot Nation tribal elder Butch Phillips as part of the welcome to over 300 people who attended the Penobscot Watershed Conference on April 9. The statement was a weighty one—when future generations look back, what will they learn from the… SEE MORE

With 90 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. imported from other countries

Working Waterfront

Globalized seafood market clashes with sustainability

In his award-winning book The Mortal Sea, historian Jeffrey Bolster detailed the 19th century decline of Northwest Atlantic fisheries, a tragedy encouraged and hidden by expansion to new waters, and advances in harvesting and processing technology that kept markets overflowing with seafood. As Bolster described it, “The market masked the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Grants available for coastal towns

The state’s Maine Coastal Program is seeking applications for a new round of coastal grants for fiscal year 2017. The grants are for municipal and regional projects in Maine’s coastal zone. The two types of available grants are Coastal Communities Grants and Shore and Harbor Management Grants. Funding for these… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fishermen’s forum includes lobster check-up

By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. In addition to the news that lobster fishermen’s landings totaled a record $500 million in 2015, there were several science updates at the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum that addressed common concerns about the fishery. Where do we stand with shell… SEE MORE