Working Waterfront

Lobster landings fell last year as fishermen went out less

According to preliminary data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), the state’s commercial seafood harvesters earned $619 million in 2025, which was the 14th consecutive year commercial fishery earnings surpassed $500 million. “Once again, Maine fishermen and sea farmers in 2025 delivered premium products sought by consumers around the… SEE MORE

Fishermen return to the dock in Belfast after catching menhaden, also known as pogies. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Fishermen divided over proposed menhaden changes

Like the schools of menhaden that roil the summer waters off the coast of Maine, a proposed law that would open that lucrative fishery to more participants has been raising turmoil among fishermen, legislators, and state regulators. Menhaden has become a significant part of the bait supply for Maine’s lobster… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Changes below—Can wild kelp survive?

“Change is the only constant.” That’s one of the memorable sayings of my graduate school advisor, Dr. Bob Steneck. I started my career in Steneck’s lab, researching how the abundance and composition of seaweeds on Caribbean coral reefs can make or break the start of life for baby corals. As… SEE MORE

A stereograph image captured the William Underwood Co. cannery, which operated in Southwest Harbor at Clark’s Point, circa 1870.

Working Waterfront

A fishery transformed by canning

Men handled the heavy lifting and soldering of cans, while women cooked, processed, and packed the meat in addition to labeling cans. SEE MORE

Cushing fisherman Danny Staples handles recently caught lobster at his private wharf in October. Staples has led a town effort to buy a nearby property and make it into the community’s first public working waterfront. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Shoring up Cushing’s working waterfront

Longtime fisherman Danny Staples has his own wharf on Pleasant Point Gut in Cushing, where he and several others can access the water, land lobster, and do some maintenance of their vessels. But that piece of waterfront didn’t help Staples this past fall, when his boat’s rudder broke as he… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bringing our stories to our followers

NAME: Emma Perry TITLE: Impact and Event Specialist FOCUS: As the Impact and Event Specialist I play a key role in reporting on the impact of Island Institute’s work and overseeing the administration of the Glenn Fund Community Impact grants and scholarships. Through this work, I ensure our funding creates… SEE MORE

Belfast’s sardine packing plant under construction in the early 20th century. PHOTO: PENOBSCOT MARINE MUSEUM

Working Waterfront

A sardine-packing plant’s 20th century history

The epicenter for the Maine sardine business at the turn of the 20th century was Downeast in Eastport and Lubec, but 50 years of heavy fishing pressure coupled with intense competition between packing companies in the area forced some of the companies to look for new opportunities down the coast.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Lobster fishery uncertainty—stay engaged

With chaos at the federal level these days, it is more important than ever to pay attention and stay engaged on topics we care about and support. For many of us on the Maine coast, that includes the lobster fishery. There is a lot happening—climate change, a new stock assessment,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

An easier way to clean your (boat) bottom

In the 19th century, Plymouth, Mass. was home to a famous factory that produced much of the world’s rope and twine for ship rigging. Now, in the same factory space, a company is seeking to revolutionize ship maintenance through robotics. At the Cordage Commerce Center, Greensea IQ manufactures robots which… SEE MORE

From left: Rik Michaud, Ron Michaud (Tylar’s father), Adam Albina, Mary Albina, Liz Michaud, Jeff Maker, and Joyce Maker. PHOTO: COURTESY LIZ MICHAUD

Working Waterfront

Hope for a safer fishery

Liz Michaud has one hope for the fishermen of Maine—that they all return home to their families. Michaud is the founder of Green and White Hope, a nonprofit organization improving safety for commercial fishermen. She started the organization following the death of her nephew, Tylar Michaud, in July 2023. SEE MORE