To the editor: In the March 2005 issue of Working Waterfront, you published an article entitled “Trap Limits, Ten Years Later.” On page 24 of that issue, under the unfortunate and derisive heading of “Weekend Warriors”, Clive Farrin, Zone E Vice-Chair, expressed concern about the buildup of the “recreational” (non-commercial) lobster effort. He reports that
Look at Yourselves!
To the editor: I’d like to get my two cents in on this lobster debate. How pitiful you pick on the recreational lobster fisherman, with his five-trap limit fishing out of a 14-15 foot boat… They pay an awful high price for those five traps, equaled out you couldn’t afford to fish the amount of
Government and Island Tradition
Maine people, with their strong tradition of local government, make many decisions at annual town meetings. On islands at least, the town meeting season begins in March and extends into June. This month we report on the March crop of island town meetings. The Legislature, meanwhile, is deep into its winter-spring deliberations, some of which
Swan’s Island: Homeland Security rules dampen fireworks plans
The annual Swan’s Island Town Meeting took place on March 7 with 150 to 200 residents in attendance. Matters to be voted on included the election of officials, budget appropriations, a new Land Use Ordinance, and a possible action to affirm public rights to the Irish Point pathway. Terry A. Staples presided as moderator. Dexter
North Haven’s town meeting well attended
The threat of 20 inches of snow did not keep North Haven residents from coming out to the annual town meeting on Saturday, March 12. Over 60 people attended the meeting, which was held at the town’s Community Building. The town meeting was a true community affair with North Haven Community School juniors selling donuts
Cranberry Isles: Politics and Pie
On March 14, the residents of Cranberry Isles mixed municipal business with community pleasure at the annual Town Meeting, approving a $1,536,488 town budget and feasting upon a community lunch of chicken, biscuits and approximately 20 homemade pies. Held at the Great Cranberry Island Fire House, the daylong event was highlighted by two major issues:
Making Decisions
Most things in Maine have their seasons, and this time of year might be dubbed “government season.” Not a time to stir the soul, perhaps, but there’s plentiful evidence that this season is upon us: in Augusta, the legislature is in full swing, grappling for better or worse with matters that affect us all. And
“Sustainable” Seafood – From the industry’s standpoint, it’s simply good business
Sustainable seafood has created such a buzz in the marketplace that it headlined this year’s Seafood Business Summit at the Boston Seafood Show. A panel of seafood buyers and fisheries experts shared their experience on procuring seafood that is sustainably harvested from plentiful stocks, or farmed without ecological impacts. All the panelists, from the large-volume
Steel schooner takes shape in Sprucehead
Backyard boatbuilding projects are common enough, but a 70-foot steel schooner? That’s what retired teacher Adrian Hooydonk is welding together beside his small, coveside house in Sprucehead. At this stage the vessel is a jungle of steel frames, deck I-beams and the growing number of steel plates, from keel up, which define the hull. He
Canadian fishermen worried about new safety rules
Transport Canada has announced plans to update the Canada Shipping Act to “promote the safety and economic performance of the marine industry,” including fishing vessels. But fishermen all across Atlantic Canada maintain that the new provisions are short on common sense and long on cost — to the fishermen. The update includes “improvements to provisions