Trawl limit plan divides lobstermen at hearing May 25, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront ELLSWORTH – A Department of Marine Resources proposal to change the way some lobstermen fish in a large swath of water around Mount Desert Rock drew vocal opposition at a meeting in Ellsworth May 22 despite a unanimous vote in the Zone B Lobster Management Council. At issue is a proposal to limit the number …
Illegal fishing drives early shutdown of elver fishery May 23, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on Breaking News, News, Waterfront AUGUSTA — The Department of Marine Resources announced Wednesday, May 23, that it was closing the state’s lucrative elver fishing season two weeks early “because of illegal sales which jeopardize the department’s ability to manage the fishery.” The department used its emergency rulemaking authority to shut the season down. The elver fishing season was scheduled …
Youthful skippers will present answers at The Grand May 21, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront ELLSWORTH — Students from the eight schools participating in the Eastern Maine Skippers Program will make their final project presentations on Thursday, May 24, at The Grand in Ellsworth. The program will begin at 5 p.m. This year, about 100 students will take part in the presentation, according to Christina Fifeld, Eastern Maine Skippers Program …
Mock shock and awe assaults Bar Harbor whale watch boat May 21, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront BAR HARBOR — Visitors to the waterfront on a Monday earlier this month might have spotted a cadre of heavily armed men storming aboard the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.’s catamaran Friendship V. On May 10, what looked like an armed assault on the usually tranquil whale watching vessel was actually a maritime security training …
Stonington lobsterman dies in Jericho Bay May 19, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on Breaking News, News, Waterfront STONINGTON — The Marine Patrol confirmed Saturday that a Stonington lobsterman died Friday afternoon while fishing near Marshall Island in Jericho Bay. According to Sgt. Troy Dow, the body of 59-year-old Wayne “Butch” Ciomei was found in the water late Friday afternoon tangled in pot warp. His boat, the 36-foot Chelsea Lynn, was found aground, …
Marblehead, Camden Hills win championships at Downeast Regatta May 17, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront CASTINE — It was a matter of new wine, old bottle last weekend as 19 teams from 17 New England public and private secondary schools gathered at Maine Maritime Academy for the 20th sailing of the Downeast Invitational/Maine State Championship regatta. The event is sponsored by George Stevens Academy and hosted by MMA. This year …
WoodenBoat School to offer course to help teach math May 17, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on Education, News, Waterfront BROOKLIN — Every summer, the WoodenBoat School offers a catalog full of classes aimed at teaching the skills required to build boats. This summer, instructor Joe Youcha will present a boatbuilding course aimed at teachers — but not primarily at boatbuilding. Instead, the course is “a training program for hands-on math instructors,” Youcha said. Youcha …
Court dismissal ends lobster dealer’s potboiler May 15, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront ELLSWORTH — A saga involving allegations of skullduggery by a Mount Desert Island lobster dealer on the waters of Blue Hill Bay reached its final chapter last week in Ellsworth. A Superior Court judge dismissed a single charge against Donald Crabtree of failing to keep required records or not reporting all of his lobster purchases. …
Coast Guard, NOAA step up their whale protection effort May 11, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront ELLSWORTH — The onset of spring means that endangered North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales and other marine mammals will soon be working their way northward through the Gulf of Maine. Last week, the Coast Guard announced that units from its First District in New England would join a stronger effort by the National Oceanic …
Legislators address the mess in Augusta May 10, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Politics ELLSWORTH — The 128th Maine State Legislature, unable to overcome partisan bickering, adjourned last week leaving a raft of unfinished business behind in Augusta. The votes to adjourn came late on Wednesday after efforts in the House of Representatives to extend the session by five days, then three days and, finally, one single day, all …
