In my last “From the Helm” column, I wrote about the importance of Maine’s working waterfront—the people, the structures, the boats, and the businesses that sustain Maine’s marine economy. I asked you to imagine what it would look like if that critical connection between land and sea were to disappear. And then, in late December, a fire tore through the Custom House Wharf, threatening to destroy the heart of Portland’s waterfront and arguably one of the city’s most iconic locations.
For those of you reading this column from the warmth of your homes, know that Dec. 26 was brutally cold. Were it not for the tenacity of the first responders, fishermen, and firefighters—and a fortuitous offshore wind—the devastation could have been worse. For historians, the red sky and roaring inferno on Custom House Wharf certainly evoked fears of the Great Fire of 1866 when much of Portland, from the Old Port to Munjoy Hill, succumbed to flames.
For the individual businesses that were affected, the Custom House Wharf blaze dealt real economic loss. As we learned during the January storms of 2024, such losses also take a psychological toll, as beloved landmarks are threatened if not destroyed. This is true for the fishermen who rely upon that wharf for their livelihoods as well as the thousands of visitors who want to experience firsthand Maine’s maritime economy in action.
Custom House Wharf is part of my own history. My father’s great-great-uncle, Ropheus Hamilton, owned R.D. Hamilton’s Fish Market in the 1880s at 9 Custom House Wharf, now the location of the revered Harbor Fish Market. That’s just one of the ways that my family, like so many others, has connections to this important location. While supporting Maine’s working waterfronts is central to Island Institute’s mission today, I also feel this loss at a personal level.
Custom House Wharf may be particularly historic and recognizable, but its vitality and importance are replicated all along the coast. It is not an exaggeration to say that vibrant wharves are the foundations of our maritime communities from Bath to Belfast, Stonington to Lubec. Their form and functions, honed over generations, would be very hard to recreate anew. This is why any assault—natural or manmade—to the essential infrastructure that keeps our marine economy humming is especially concerning.
But there is much we can do today to build a more resilient future.
Most immediately, support the efforts to rebuild Custom House Wharf. Our colleagues at the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association have established a fund for the response at the request of the fishing community. One hundred percent of your donation will support those affected by the fire.
Of course, continue to frequent the businesses and restaurants along the wharf that bring this slice of Portland Harbor to life.
Over the longer term, follow local community efforts related to coastal development. Many of our working waterfronts and shorefronts that provide access to fishermen and aquaculturalists are quietly disappearing without sufficient discussion, thought, visibility, or long-term planning.
Support the state of Maine’s efforts to protect working waterfronts and commercial fishing access through the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program, which will re-open early this year and can limit non-fishery related development at a site. More information can be found on the Department of Marine Resources website and from Island Institute.
Lastly, support our local marine economy—from the fishermen to the many businesses that make the waterfront work for all of us.
Collectively, we need more tools, more resources, and more awareness to protect what’s threatened. And we need you.
Kim Hamilton is president of Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. She may be contacted at khamilton@islandinstitute.org.
