March 26, 2024

In wake of January storms, Maine's fish wharves and working waterfronts are starting to rebuild

Less than a week after the first of the back-to-back January storms that destroyed much infrastructure along Maine's working waterfronts, the Island Institute launched a storm response grant program, received applications and began sending out funds to coastal businesses. 
MaineBiz
March 26, 2024

Maine Seacoast Mission announces 2024 Sunbeam Awards

Maine Seacoast Mission President John Zavodny has announced the two recipients of the Sunbeam Award for 2024: Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, in Bethesda, Md., and the Island Institute. This year’s awardees were chosen for their commitment to the communities the Mission serves.
The Ellsworth American
February 12, 2024

Opinion: Now is the time for a down payment on our coastal communities

Gov. Mills' calls for investment in both community recovery and statewide climate change adaptation must be heeded.
January’s back-to-back coastal storms eroded our coastlines, destroyed family homes and wharves, and swept years of hopes and dreams out to sea. Even for those of us who work on the impact of climate change on Maine’s coastal communities, these scenes were shocking. There remains no doubt that we need to imagine a different future coast, one where our infrastructure, businesses and homes can withstand storms like these and the forces of climate change.
Nick Battista
January 24, 2024

Maine faces daunting to-do list to recover from recent storms and prepare for more extremes

State and municipal leaders say they're scrambling to learn as much as they can about the three winter storms that flooded riverfront communities and set high tide records along the coast within the span of one month. Those storms are what prompted an emergency meeting of the Maine Climate Council Tuesday in Augusta. The group gathered to discuss the impacts from the recent storms and share ideas on how Maine communities could better prepare...
Maine Public
January 24, 2024

Maine fishing towns rebuild in wake of monstrous storm

BRISTOL, Maine — On the waterfront in New Harbor, one of Maine’s most visited fishing communities, the damage is clear to see. Remnants of wharves that were torn apart by the back-to-back storms of Jan. 10 and 13 are still standing in places, while others have simply vanished, the wreckage pulled out and hauled away... 
News Center Maine
November 14, 2023

Area Island Institute Fellows get funding boost

Story published in Ellsworth American on November 10, 2023. Island Institute, a Rockland-based community development organization focused on island and coastal communities, has been awarded a $201,000 Rural Community Development…
Ellsworth American
August 24, 2023

A behind-the-scenes look at Maine’s growing scallop farming industry

Story by Alyssa Thurlow, published in WABI on August 18, 2023. Maine’s wild scallop harvest is still a few months away, but a group of fishermen in Penobscot Bay can…
WABI5
August 4, 2023

A Maine boatyard has an electric boat it says could energize the working waterfront

Article by Peter Van Allen, published in Mainebiz on July 28, 2023. An Islesboro boatyard has unveiled a fully electric boat that it says could have implications for Maine’s working…
Mainebiz
May 23, 2023

With development encroaching, state law passed to protect working waterfront

Saving working waterfront properties from conversion to non-commercial uses is one way to protect Maine’s fishing heritage, say advocates of a working waterfront access protection program.
Article by Laurie Schreiber, published in Mainebiz on May 15, 2023. Anew law is expected to greatly expand opportunities for protecting Maine’s remaining working waterfronts. “This new law will allow Maine’s…
Mainebiz
May 23, 2023

VIDEO: A look inside Maine’s growing kelp industry

Kelp has quickly become Maine’s new cash crop.
Article by Alyssa Thurlow, published by WABI5 on May 18, 2023. Did you know Maine is currently the largest producer of kelp in the United States? There are farms located…
WABI5