Storm Response — Chipman's Wharf
Located on the Narraguagus River in Milbridge, Chipman’s Wharf serves about 25 fishing boats and includes a dockside fish market and seasonal restaurant.
Chipman’s shoreside infrastructure was devastated by the storm on January 10, 2024. They lost 104 feet of their wharf including an entire bait shed and are now facing the task of completely rebuilding their wharf so they can continue serving the Milbridge fishing fleet.
Island Institute helped Chipman’s Wharf in the aftermath of the storm by:
- Connecting Chipman’s with key recovery information quickly after the storm.
- Awarding a grant to put towards the rebuilding of the destroyed wharf.
“Island Institute did a great job keeping business owners informed about what resources were available and what we could do to move on and start the recovery process.”
– Amity Chipman, Co-owner Chipman’s Wharf
Chipman’s Wharf was constructed by Chris, Jason, and their father in 2002, and the family built the business from the ground up. The whole Chipman family contributes to the operation, including the children who are often seen working on the dock. The business has also become a tourist destination, offering seafood lunches in the summer where tourists can eat a lobster roll while watching the fishing boats unload their catch.
On January 10, the wharf was delivered a dramatic blow by the storm surge event. The entire wharf was swept away along with the gear stored there including 800 lobster traps. Within hours, the Milbridge community got together to help clean up the debris.
The Milbridge town manager informed the Chipmans about Island Institute’s resources, including the special Business Resilience Grants that were available to working waterfront businesses. They were awarded the grant which they put towards the reconstruction efforts that will be continuing for the coming months. Their construction plans include raising the wharf and bolstering it against other large storms that may strike in the future.
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