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.

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.

Nick Battista, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer  at Island Institute, shares his reflections from a mid-March policy trip to Washington, DC.

At the 50th anniversary of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, Island Institute announced the launch of its new Future of Fishing initiative. Community development officer Christa Thorpe writes about our new resources for fishermen and community-centered goals that anchor them.

Island Institute’s Fellowship program has sharpened its focus to support community-led climate and marine economy projects. Senior Community Development Officer Lisa Millette shares how this shift aligns with the Institute’s refreshed mission and Maine’s climate action plan. 

At the beginning of the month, several Island Institute team members attended the National Working Waterfront Network Conference in San Diego. In addition to connecting with experts from across the country, they shared the groundbreaking work Island Institute is doing to keep Maine’s working waterfronts and marine economy ahead of the curve. We asked our team to reflect on the experience.

In the wake of the recent storm, our Island and coastal communities are grappling with the devastating impacts of severe flooding and storm damage.  To support the families and businesses through this difficult time, we want to share resources to access the help they need to recover from this storm and prepare for the next.

Each fall, island schools in the Outer Island Teaching and Learning Collaborative (TLC) gather for unforgettable multi-day field trips that connect students, families, and communities. These trips are a core part of the TLC’s mission, enriching academic and social learning for Maine's smallest island schools and fostering connections that last through winter.

I grew up on Peaks Island and recently moved to Deer Isle to work as an Island Institute Fellow to support Deer Isle & Stonington’s Adult & Community Education. I'm helping people with career transitions and assisting those whose jobs, like lobstermen, require new technological skills for tracking and reporting. As I unpacked boxes in my new apartment, I saw the little trail of memories that have led me to this moment and to become an Island Institute Fellow.

Dylan Metrano, a multi-talented artist and co-founder of La Nef Chocolate, shares how he masterfully blends papercutting, chocolate making, and music into an inspiring and creative concoction.