Working Waterfront

It’s time to fix the Indian land claim act

Legislation aimed at modernizing and fixing what is broken in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act is working its way through the Maine Legislature. LD 1626 came through the work of a bipartisan task force that also included tribal chiefs and leaders as well as representatives from the… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

A humble prognostication for 2022

When I was asked about the prospects for 2022 here on our working waterfront, I immediately left my number with Hamilton Marine. Wayne called me back within three minutes. He said because of the COVID it would be hard to say what the next 12 months will bring. My local… SEE MORE

A photographic rendering of what Nordic Aquafarms' Belfast facility would look like.

Working Waterfront

Fish-farm opponents distort facts

The November issue of The Working Waterfront featured a misleading opinion column by John Krueger, an activist from Upstream Watch, a group opposing plans by Nordic Aquafarms to build a salmon growing facility in Belfast. As with his previous efforts, Krueger’s storytelling is deceptive and designed to fit his activist… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

The other side of Land for Maine’s Future

This summer, $40 million was added to the state budget for the Land for Maine’s Future program, normally funded by a bond submitted to voters. No reason was given by the legislature for this change, but recent history may have been a guide. In 2019, a similar LMF bond was… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Animals are well protected in research

I read with growing dismay the guest columnist featured in the September 2021 issue of The Working Waterfront (“Animal welfare a victim in research”). It was, in almost every respect, incorrect and inflammatory. First, there are laws governing the use of animals in research beyond the Animal Welfare Act, including… SEE MORE

Artist's rendering of land-based portion of salmon farm proposed for Frenchman Bay.

Working Waterfront

Is Maine hosting the best aquaculture technology?

Maine’s coast is witnessing multiple plans for large aquaculture projects, including two new sites planned for Frenchman Bay, in addition to those in Belfast, Bucksport, and Jonesport. For some, the possibility of jobs and tax revenue from industrial-sized aquaculture is appealing. The success of these plans, however, is dependent upon… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Leaving gas vehicles in the rear-view mirror

Until last winter, the transition from good-old gasoline cars to cutting-edge electric vehicles (EVs) felt like a distant, probably leisurely affair. To many in Maine, it still does. And why not? You don’t see many EVs around and nobody seems to be trying very hard to sell them to Mainers.… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Caring for our elders: A call to action

Maine’s getting old, faster than any other state. Now is the time for “policymakers and lawmakers to think boldly about how best to address Mainers’ needs for long-term care services.” That call to action was issued more than a decade ago. The 2010 recommendations by experts convened by the Maine… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine should lead when it comes to recycling

More than 30 years ago, Maine set out to recycle or compost 50 percent of our waste annually. Today, we're not even close to achieving that goal. We're going backwards, according to a new report from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Just under 38 percent of our waste was… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Caring for our elders: A call to action

Maine’s getting old, faster than any other state. Now is the time for “policymakers and lawmakers to think boldly about how best to address Mainers’ needs for long-term care services.” That call to action was issued more than a decade ago. The 2010 recommendations by experts convened by the Maine… SEE MORE