As conversations about the future of Maine State Ferry Service are progressing, Island Institute’s Nick Battista emphasized that the Ferry Service is a vital component of civic infrastructure that connects island communities to essential services and opportunities.
Tag: Marine Economy
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.
Maine’s hardy lobster fishery had, seemingly, seen it all. Then came Trump’s trade wars.
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under In the news.
Good seasons and bad. The ups and downs of government regulations. The growing threat of warming seas. But this year, the state’s thousands of lobstermen, and the thousands more whose livelihoods depend on the industry, are staring down a storm the likes they’ve never seen before. As President Trump wages an unprecedented protectionist campaign to impose or tease steep tariffs on nearly every trading partner, an industry that thrives on the free flow of global trade — and disposable cash in Americans’ wallets — could suffer disproportionately.
It’s not just tariffs; broad economic uncertainty could weigh on Maine’s lobster industry
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under In the news.
Though Canada has placed tariffs on an initial round of U.S. goods worth some $30 billion, lobster is not on that list. Still, some members of the industry and economic experts worry that broader global economy uncertainty may drive down demand for the product in Maine.
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.
Hopeful Persistence while Navigating Change and Uncertainty
Posted by Julia Matejcek & filed under Blog.
Nick Battista, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer at Island Institute, shares his reflections from a mid-March policy trip to Washington, DC.
A Bright Future for Maine’s Fishing Communities
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under Blog.
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.
More than a year after devastating storms, communities shift to resilience
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under In the news.
When last year’s winter storms devastated the coast, Sam Belknap’s family wharf on Round Pond harbor in Bristol was saved by its concrete floor. The floor, which Belknap’s family poured years ago when they put in a seafood processing room, provided enough weight to keep most of the wharf from floating away.
As aquafarming continues to grow in Maine, new coalition looks to educate
Posted by Gerogia Howe & filed under In the news.
A new coalition is coming together to support Maine’s growing aquaculture industry, aiming to clear up misconceptions and highlight the economic and environmental benefits of seafood farming.
