Island Institute is teaming up with the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs to launch the Fishing Plus Accelerator, a program for fishing families to explore new business opportunities to diversify their income in the face of climate and industry changes.
Category: Blog
Investing in Resilience
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Rising costs, environmental changes, and shifting markets are reshaping the backbone of Maine’s marine economy: the lobster industry. Island Institute is working with fishing families to navigate these challenges by supporting small business diversification to create new sources of income.
Day in Community: Jack Sullivan, Multimedia Storytelling
Posted by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.
Join Island Institute’s multimedia storyteller, Jack Sullivan, for a day in his life of filming in Boothbay Harbor with the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Telling Our Own Story
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Folks from across Maine’s fishing communities gathered in Stonington for a train-the-trainer workshop co-hosted by the Island Institute. The objective: to prepare trusted local volunteers to support harvesters as they navigate new digital landings reporting requirements in the lobster industry.
Takeaways From the Forefront of Energy Innovation
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
At the beginning of the month, several Island Institute team members attended a workshop put on by the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado. They share what they learned at the workshop, both from partner organizations and new energy systems.
These Are The Days in Maine
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Island Institute’s Susie Arnold reflects on the power of partnership at the 2025 Maine Climate Change Adaptation Providers Network meeting.
Energy Innovation Opportunity for Rural, Coastal, & Island Communities in the Northeast
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) helps rural communities explore affordable, reliable, and locally driven energy solutions. Apply by July 27th to join the growing network of communities powering their own path forward.
Fellows Secure Major Grants for Island & Coastal Communities
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
At the start of the month, Governor Janet Mills announced the award of $8 million in grant funding through the state’s Community Resilience Partnership (CRP) to help communities protect people, businesses, and infrastructure from flooding, storm surge, and other climate effects. Three Island Institute Fellows––Claire Oxford, Thomas McClellan, and Alice Cockerham––helped their host communities apply for, and receive, thousands in Community Action Grant (CAG) funding.
Decoding the Future of Fishing
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Island Institute is betting on fishing families—their knowledge, their adaptability, and their willingness to invest in their futures. The Future of Fishing project, in partnership with Profit Decoder, is not about abandoning tradition. It’s about preserving what matters by being smarter about how we operate.
Navigating Lobster Tariffs Webinar: A Resilient Industry Faces Uncertainty
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Following our April 3 webinar with industry experts, we unpack how potential lobster tariffs would impact Maine’s lobster industry. This webinar was moderated by Island Institute’s Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer Nick Battista, the panel featured Luke Holden, Founder and CEO of Luke’s Lobster, Amanda Rector, Maine State Economist, and Eric Miller, President of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group.
