November 30, 2021 — A new report says the lack of reliable access to infrastructure along Maine working waterfronts is a growing threat to the state’s fishing and marine industries.
The Island Institute — a Rockland-based nonprofit that works to develop local economies and climate solutions in Maine’s 120 island and coastal communities — recently published the report, called “The Critical Nature of Maine’s Working Waterfront and Access to the Shore.”
The report examines the state of working waterfront access in Maine, outlines the need for a broader strategy around access protection, and makes recommendations for immediate action steps.
Billion-dollar impact
At well over $1 billion per year, Maine’s fishing and related waterfront industries represent a major sector of Maine’s economy.
Working waterfront communities are grappling with pressures both from the sea and from the land, according to the report.