On Thursday, November 5, NOAA Fisheries announced that upcoming Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) meeting would be delayed until March 2027. The delay comes with the intention of allowing more time for new science and data to move through the scientific peer review process. These updates to a complicated process will likely result in important and positive implications for Maine’s lobster fishery.
Category: Blog
Sea Level Rise is Happening!
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Created for the Island Institute, this O’Chang Comics / Puckerbrush Animation original calls attention to the challenges of increased coastal flooding, storm surge events, and sea level rise impacts for Maine communities.
Looking Back and Moving Forward with the Maine Islands Coalition
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Maine Islands Coalition leaders reflect on the organization’s importance for island communities, and where it’s headed in the future.
Distant Waves: Matinicus Island
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
On Matinicus, an island located roughly 22 miles off of Maine’s coast, unreliable access to power has made day-to-day life more difficult for generations. This documentary, produced by CIC USA, follows the story of a community-led commitment to upgrading Matinicus’s energy system from a failing diesel generator to a microgrid primarily powered by solar and hybrid supercapacitor energy storage.
Word on the Wharf
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Bruce Doughty, a former commercial fisherman and Island Institute employee, shares what he’s hearing from candid conversations with Maine lobstermen.
Welcoming New Island Institute Fellows
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Meet the new Island Institute Fellows and catch up on the current cohort’s community-driven projects.
Reading the Shoreline
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
ShoreCorps Steward Emma Polhemus worked with Island Institute staff and island communities in Casco Bay to assess shoreline erosion and offer potential paths forward.
Describe Maine’s Coast in 3 Words
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
At a recent even on Peaks Island, we asked folks to describe Maine’s coast in 3 words! We compiled some of our favorite answers to celebrate our shared connection to place.
Innovation is Just a Ferry Ride Away
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
What can Maine learn from Nova Scotia about electrifying a commercial boat? Island Institute’s marine electrification team traveled to Halifax to exchange ideas and bring home insights to advance the electrification of Maine’s working waterfronts.
On Kayaks, Community, and Collaboration
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
Island Institute Fellows gathered in Stonington to celebrate successes, troubleshoot shared challenges, and recharge on the water. Emerson Wesselhoff, the Damariscotta Fellow, reflects on the theme of collaboration that framed the trip and her work in community.
