Rockweed on the shore at low tide. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Rockweed harvesting is sustainable

Contrary to a recent article in this newspaper (“Illegal rockweed harvesting threatens environment,” November issue), rockweed harvesting is an environmentally sustainable practice that is crucial to the future of Maine’s working waterfront. The article took a surprisingly sour view of the industry, overstating the number of bad actors and instances… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Where ideas are plentiful, but resources scarce

A few weeks ago, at a small library in South Thomaston, I had the opportunity to sit down with several Maine business owners. We were brought together by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to discuss its new grant to Island Institute for our revolving loan fund. Launched last year,… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Collins offers working waterfront bill

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Jack Reed have introduced the Working Waterfront Preservation Act. This bipartisan bill would help preserve access for fishermen and maritime workers to the waterfronts in coastal communities, supporting the commercial fishing, aquaculture, boatbuilding, and for-hire recreational fishing industries that are so vital to the culture,… SEE MORE

Kelly Hinkle, right, who posts to social media as the Downeast Cowboy, with his father. PHOTO: CHERYL CLEGG

Working Waterfront

TikTok brings Maine fisheries to the world

TikTok brings Maine fisheries to the world—‘Downeast Cowboy’ and others stream while they work SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Blue crabs on the rise in Maine waters

[caption id="attachment_38937" align="alignleft" width="300"] After trapping blue crabs in the New Meadows River, Manomet’s Jessie Batchelder tags the crustaceans before releasing them. PHOTO: COURTESY MANOMET[/caption] Blue crabs are expanding their range into the warming waters of the Gulf of Maine, raising questions about their long-term impact on other marine species… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Fish are shrinking in size, according to new study

University of Maine ecology professor Brian McGill helped discover that the average body sizes of fish are shrinking as part of an international project with 16 other researchers. The team, led by University of York macroecologist Inês Martins, analyzed the body size trends of numerous plants and animals worldwide from… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When settling in, home comes in small moments

Reflections is written by Island Institute Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. After three days of orientation as a new Island Institute Fellow, I hit the streets—the main street of Blue… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When Vinalhaven had (lots of) fish

When the Island Had Fish: The Remarkable Story of a Maine Fishing Community By Janna Malamud Smith (DownEast Books, 2023) I’ve been talking about When the Island Had Fish: The Remarkable Story of a Maine Fishing Community on Vinalhaven with everyone I know. Even at a recent funeral. The story… SEE MORE

Caitlin and Ethan Spaulding and their son Forrest pose on the shore of their Islesboro farm. PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Crab to bird—invasive species becomes chicken feed

Two years ago, Ethan Spaulding, 30, his wife Caitlin, 26, and their son Forrest, 6, left the rich soils of Indiana to start a farm on a rocky island off the Maine coast. They knew logic wasn’t on their side, but they believe their God is. “We knew nobody out… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Collaborative marine science researcher retires

When Bob Steneck came to the University of Maine in 1982, there were few marine ecologists in the state, and none interacted with fishermen. He was among the first in Maine to work with lobstermen on research, traveling with them on their boats, diving to the seafloor to study lobsters,… SEE MORE