Working Waterfront

Our View: Maine’s marine future must include aquaculture

You have recently read several articles and op-eds in The Working Waterfront debating the role of aquaculture in Maine. As the publisher of this newspaper, Island Institute takes pride in providing a virtual, open “town square” where people can come together for hard conversations on controversial topics. As a trusted voice on the issues that affect Maine’s coast, we are also keenly aware of our responsibility to share accurate and timely information based on our own programmatic experience and expertise. SEE MORE

Where To?, by Rebecca Goodale and Arlene Morris, 2024, edition of five, 17 x 15 x 2¼ inches. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ARTISTS

Working Waterfront

Rebecca Goodale, Arlene Morris ‘build’ a clam shack

Goodale and Morris invite the reader to assemble the panels “to create a specific place during this climate crisis.” The panels can be arranged, they note, “to suit [the reader’s] aesthetic preferences..." SEE MORE

Jeff Frank speaks at the Maine Fishermen's Forum. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

Jeff Frank and the ‘Future of Fishing’

Name: Jeff Frank Title: Senior community development officer in Island Institute’s Center for Marine Economy Focus: I lead the business support work for the Future of Fishing program. This initiative is designed to help Maine’s fishing families and coastal communities navigate the economic uncertainty facing the lobster industry. My work… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

How nature steps up when waves get rough

There are thousands of examples from around the world, but what practitioners have found works best to show landowners the benefits of nature-based solutions is social proof—a project in your neighbor’s yard. SEE MORE

Megan Shapiro, left, and Rory Morgan of Maine Department of Marine Resources deploy a ropeless lobster trap in a demonstration of some of the new technology for community leaders and fishermen at Jonesport’s town landing on Feb. 18. See the story inside for more information about the new gear. PHOTO: JACK SULLIVAN

Working Waterfront

DMR demonstrates ropeless lobster gear in Jonesport

Island Institute is supporting a project that aims to trial available types of on-demand gear through the Maine Innovative Gear Library. The goal, through paid industry participation, is to determine the real-world capabilities and challenges associated with ropeless gear. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Institute staff reflect on national waterfront conference

The Institute crew presented on efforts like marine decarbonization, storm preparedness, and greenhouse gas assessments in the seafood industry, all while learning fresh ways to drive progress and continue supporting Maine’s working waterfronts. SEE MORE

Residents of Penobscot vote to enact an ordinance regulating aquaculture operations at a meeting last year.

Working Waterfront

Another view on aquaculture conflicts

The opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Island Institute, the publisher of The Working Waterfront Yes, please, let’s have an honest conversation about aquaculture (as the op-ed by Benjamin Ford of the law firm Archipelago argued in the April/May issue of The Working Waterfront). Protect Maine’s Fishing… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

LD 1 would help coastal towns prepare

To support this effort and align it with the state’s climate initiatives, Island Institute leveraged the Governor’s Office of Policy, Innovation, and the Future’s Community Resilience Partnership (CRP) opportunity, which provides individualized vulnerability assessments for community projects. SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Massachusetts pilots culvert-replacement project

New Englanders may only think about culverts when they fail. Often, we don’t know a road even has a culvert until it has collapsed or is dammed with sediment, causing flooding. What may be less obvious is that culverts can protect against storm surge and tidal flooding, especially as sea… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A YEAR LATER—Waterfront business owners reflect on storms

“That afternoon, all the fishermen showed up to help,” Chipman recalled, a theme among the panelists, crediting the larger community with assisting in stabilizing the properties. SEE MORE