The 28-year-old lobsterman lives part time in Rockland, but the home that calls to him is an offshore place that seems like another world: the family compound on Metinic Island, where Post family ownership goes back to a deal made with Indians. Each spring he steers his boat for the half-wooded, rugged island four miles
Managing fishermen as well as fish
That “someone else” turned out to be their wives. In 1977 after the Magnuson Act was passed, Robin Alden, then a member of the New England Fisheries Management Council, called a meeting of a small group of fishermen’s wives, including Gail Johnson of Harpswell, Blazon and Brenda Tetrault from Portland and Mary Ann Bradford of
Too many fish: company lays off 600
Fishery Products International (FPI) Ltd. in May announced the layoff of 600 workers at its flounder processing plant in Marystown, Newfoundland. The move came only days after provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Gerry Reid had expressed misgivings about FPI’s commitment to processing all its fish within the province. The action was described as a “voluntary
Friendship students work with lobster larvae
As part of its Lobster Literacy initiative, The Lobster Conservancy (TLC) is carrying out a two-month educational program at the Friendship Village School. The program is funded through an MBNA Maine Excellence in Education Grant. It is a collaboration between teacher Carla Eutlser, TLC’s Education Coordinator Linda Archambault and Island Institute Fellow Dan O’Grady. Eutlser
Rockland hosts WoodenBoat fest
From July 12 through July 14, Rockland’s waterfront will swell with traditional wooden boats as the harbor and town host this year’s WoodenBoat Show. This year’s show, known as the International Festival of Seamanship and Boatbuilding, is actually a combination of three events, including the Watercraft Challenge, the Atlantic Challenge and the traditional WoodenBoat Show.
Maine Cat on the move
The cats in Muscongus Bay are bigger and faster these days, and may soon move to Rockland or Thomaston. These aren’t felines. These are catamarans, built by Maine Cat in sizes up to 38 feet long. Dick and Lynn Vermeulen started the business in their Jefferson garage, building 22 foot fiberglass catamarans, in 1993. A
Municipal fish piers face tougher times
Along the Maine waterfront there are a number of municipally owned docking, berthing, unloading and service facilities dedicated to the commercial fishing industry. In these times of declining fish stocks, ever-changing regulations, and rising pressures for recreational and non-marine uses of waterfront property, some of these fish piers have been facing uneasy and threatened futures.
Architect visits Islesboro school
On April 22, Islesboro students welcomed environmental architect Brian Kent and his wife, Janet, to the island to learn about environmentally responsible design. The Kents arrived at the school for their three-day residency in their Honda hybrid electric/gas automobile, explaining to students that they’ve been living for the past 24 years in what they described
Wearing purple at the Farnsworth Museum
Two years shy of her 100th birthday, Emily Muir has her own exhibit at the Farnsworth Art Museum. She was unable to attend the April 21 opening, but two days later she traveled to Rockland from her home in Stonington to view the show. Modest and self-effacing, Emily’s spirit is readily felt with her marvelous
Island Fellows hold retreat, build music cabinets
Island Institute Fellows gathered on Swan’s Island May 9-12 for a retreat. A key component of such retreats is to offer a community service project to the host island. On Monhegan in September, 2001, the fellows led a coastal clean-up and participated in a musical offering at the church, which raised $400 for Monhegan’s new