Articles
Two farmers share a river
Nine years ago, Brooksville resident Anne Bossi was distressed about Jesse Leach’s application for a lease to raise oysters in the Bagaduce River close to her farm shoreline. Like many people faced with the prospect of an aquaculture lease in their “backyard,” she was afraid the venture would disturb the quiet, pristine river she had
Cod farming returns to Maine
“The best case scenario,” says George Nardi of his Atlantic cod aquaculture venture in Frenchman Bay, “is pretty simple: We’ll be able to grow, harvest and sell fish for more money than it costs us.” That, he adds, would lay the groundwork for expanding this experimental project into a full-fledged industry. The only other cod
New oyster-farming technology comes to Maine
Ken Beebe, of Harpswell, would like to trade his day job painting houses for raising oysters. “All my life I’ve been painting houses,” he says. “I want to get away from the fumes, be in the fresh air working on the water.” He hopes a new oyster farming technology, OysterGro, which has been used successfully
Maine’s groundfishermen struggle to survive
“Never in a million years did I imagine I would leave the fishery at 46 years.” Craig Pendleton of Saco, who began lobstering when he was nine, groundfishing at 17. He sold his groundfshing permit in October 2008. If an interim rule is passed by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the 70 fishermen who land
Maritime books for the midwinter
Several people who either write for, read, or have been the subject of stories in the Working Waterfront have shared some of their favorite maritime books, both fiction and non-fiction, to read in the midwinter. A combination of recently published books (a few already reviewed in Working Waterfront) and those that have withstood the test of time,
Maritime books for the midwinter
Several people who either write for, read, or have been the subject of stories in the Working Waterfront have shared some of their favorite maritime books, both fiction and non-fiction, to read in the midwinter. A combination of recently published books (a few already reviewed in Working Waterfront) and those that have withstood the test
River causes dramatic changes at Popham Beach
For many people who enjoy Popham Beach in the summer, riding the Morse River is almost as thrilling as riding the waves. Timed right, it is possible to float at a good clip past the western beach in the warmish water of the outgoing tide. It’s the sort of journey that prompts kids of all
New mussel company emerges in wake of Great Eastern closure
Carter Newall says several mussel growers who joined together in April to form Pemaquid Mussel Farms, an owner-operated business that focuses on selling its mussels locally, like to call themselves “the survivors.” He is alluding to the demise of New Harbor-based Great Eastern Mussel Farms, which closed its doors in June after almost 30 years
Algae now grown continuously using labor-saving process
Like most babies, tiny shellfish have voracious appetites that can keep those who are tending them on the run. If you put about 1,000 fingernail-size oysters into a container and then add about 6 billion cells of algae, the oysters will make short work of this nutritious food. “When you first add the algae,” says
Major conference on aquaculture to be held in Portland
Oysters, clams, scallops, blue mussels; salmon, cod, haddock, flounder; freshwater baitfish, ornamental saltwater fish; seaweed and algae; saltwater caviar fish: Maine aquaculture operations raise a surprising variety of species, both fresh and saltwater. Sebastian Belle, director of Maine Aquaculture Association, says there are 140 to 150 commercial aquaculture companies in Maine. They are supported by