I recently spent a week’s vacation fishing, hunting and hiking at around 10,000 feet in the eastern High Sierra. Over beers, beef tongue stew and pecan punch (“punch” as in between-the-eyes, due to some seriously strong liquor in this popular drink of the region’s Basque sheep herders) I learned that Maine’s 15 remaining year round
Weaks, Deads and Shrinkage How (and when) a lobster is handled affects an entire business
“There are places that have better lobsters, to begin with,” said William Atwood, a major Maine dealer, discussing the handling of lobster. Singling out Swan’s Island and the Cranberry Isles, he said, “People took care of them.” He spoke of how Swan’s Island’s Joyces “carred” lobster and said he’d asked them, “How come you guys
Belfast waterfront is searching for a buyer
Developers recently dropped plans to construct high-end condominiums at a vacated seafood factory on Belfast’s waterfront, leaving residents with mixed feelings and the local fishing community in limbo. It is the second time such a development scheme has fallen through since Stinson Seafood closed in 2001. Westport Capital Partners proposed to construct between 40 to
Portland can’t decide what to do with Maine State Pier
The stubborn cloud of stalemate has yet to lift from Portland’s waterfront. Two companies — Olympia Cos. of Portland and Ocean Properties of Portsmouth, N.H. — continue to bid for the Maine State Pier project, and in a surprise move in mid-October both were asked to quickly come up with “options” that would build a
Institute assessing effect of climate change on lobster fishery
Lobster fishermen and others on the coast of Maine will feel the effects of climate change in the coming years, no matter how soon or how much society reduces its emission of greenhouse gases. What that change might mean is the subject of a research project initiated by the Island Institute earlier this year. Scientists
Lobster fishermen, researchers, managers gather at Prince Edward Island
On Sept. 23, over 275 participants representing 22 countries converged in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Canada for the weeklong International Conference on Lobster Biology and Management. This was the 8th annual conference and the second one to be hosted by Canada. It provided an opportunity for lobster fishery mangers, fishermen and scientists from all over
Both sides welcome Canadian LNG report
Canada’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department has released its report on the possible impact of proposed LNG facilities on the Maine side of Passamaquoddy Bay. Both sides of the controversy are essentially claiming that the page report supports their positions. Produced by SENES Consultants Limited in Ottawa for the Government of Canada, the 326-page
In Pictures: A photographer’s archive captures three decades of waterfront work
Photojournalist Everett “Red” Boutilier, whose photographs are being digitized at the Penobscot Marine Museum, was known for being talkative. “He talked a blue streak,” says Peter Spectre, who was working as a journalist/editor during the 1960s through the1990s, when Boutilier covered the Midcoast working waterfront “He’d go on and on and on. It was one
Bond issue would protect commercial waterfront access
It’s not grabbing headlines, but a statewide referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot includes funding that could help preserve coastal property for fishermen. If approved by voters, the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program would receive $3 million for protecting the state’s shrinking working waterfront. It’s part of a proposed $35.5 million conservation bond, of
Providing Access to the Coast
Projects funded thus far through Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program (WWAPP) have protected access that supports over 475 jobs and a related $8.5 million in annual income. These properties provide berthing, wharfage, parking, supplies, bait, sales, gear storage, landings and access for over 250 boats. To date, this program has provided matching funds to secure