A memorial service was held in Rockland for two of the area's victims in the El Faro sinking.

Working Waterfront

What doomed the El Faro?

Battered by Hurricane Joaquin as it traveled from Jacksonville, Florida to Puerto Rico, the 790-foot cargo ship El Faro sank east of the Bahamas on Oct. 1. Thirty-three mariners perished, including five graduates of Maine Maritime Academy and two from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. As is the nature of sea disasters,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lobster promotion reaches chefs, White House, China

When lobster fisherman Steve Train traveled to New York City on a two-day marketing junket last summer, he found the experience was an effective way to introduce Maine’s “new shell” lobster to high-end chefs and national food media outlets. Train, traveling from his home on Long Island, off Portland, joined… SEE MORE

The Islesboro ferry as seen from the Grindle Point Lighthouse.

Working Waterfront

Islesboro, Chebeague study high water impacts

High waters, whether from storm surge, rising sea levels or both, can cause costly damage to the coast. On islands, those high seas can have even more impact, damaging essential infrastructure and even leaving residences cut off from island resources and the mainland. That's why the state, through its Maine… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Marine mammal protections evolving with environment

By Susie Arnold, Ph. D. and Heather Deese, Ph. D. A number of large whales spend time in the Gulf of Maine, as do seals, porpoises and dolphins. The Gulf of Maine also is home to other species that garner special attention and protection, including seabirds, sea turtles and threatened… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Where on the coast?

Can you identify this week's mystery coastal view? The first five to email us with the correct answer at WhereOnTheCoast@gmail.com will be sent a copy of the 2015 Island Journal. Thanks for playing (and for reading our stories)! SEE MORE

Marine

Working Waterfront

Salmon as witness—and victim—of Maine’s development struggles

The President’s Salmon: Restoring the King of Fish and Its Home Waters Catherine Schmitt Down East Books 2015, hardcover, $22.95 The title of Catherine Schmitt's latest book, The President's Salmon, had me wondering where she was going to take readers. Schmitt cleverly structures the history of Atlantic salmon in the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Where on the coast?

This week's mystery coastal scene is most certainly in the Downeast region. Another hint: there's a state park a stone's throw away, and last summer, The Working Waterfront featured a photo essay shot there. If you think you know where this is, email Tom Groening, editor of The Working Waterfront/Island… SEE MORE

Marine

A drone hovers near a simulation of a whale exhaling.

Working Waterfront

Drones well-suited for whale research, says Ocean Alliance

Take a funny Patrick Stewart video, a fundraiser for a new robotic application and the words “whale snot” and mix them together and you should have a perfect viral Kickstarter campaign. That’s what the Ocean Alliance thought when it released a small video of the famous actor being harassed by… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Where on the coast is this harbor?

Can you identify this harbor on the Maine coast? The first five to do so—and email us at WhereOnTheCoast@gmail.com—will win a copy of the 2015 Island Journal, which we'll send to the winners. The only hint we'll give is to look closely at the upper right corner of the photograph. SEE MORE

Marine

Working Waterfront

Alfond Foundation gives $3.1 million to Bigelow Lab for residences

The Harold Alfond Foundation announced a $3.1 million award to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences for construction of a 32-bed student and visiting scientist residence with four visitor apartments on the laboratory’s East Boothbay campus. An anonymous donor has matched the award, allowing the project to break ground in April. A separate… SEE MORE