Abbreviated weekend for MMA sailing team October 17, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront CASTINE — The Maine Maritime Academy sailing team was busy last weekend, but not as busy as it hoped. The Mariners traveled to two regattas sailed hundreds of miles apart and both were cut short. Eight big-boat sailors traveled south to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis to race in the McMillan Cup Regatta while …
Lobster exports decline sharply as tariffs kick in October 17, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront ELLSWORTH — Some say trade wars are easy to win, but every war has its casualties. According to trade figures just published by NOAA Fisheries, the lobster industry may be one of them. In June, the United States exported to China nearly 1.6 million pounds of live lobster worth $11.7 million. In July, live lobster …
Engine shortage slows pace of boatbuilding October 11, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront LAMOINE — Seated behind the desk in his office, boatbuilder Stewart Workman seemed pretty relaxed for a businessman with a big problem that seems to be growing worse. Workman owns SW Boatworks, the builder of some of the most popular boats used in the Maine lobster fleet. The company’s boats, drawn by two iconic Downeast …
Whale protection, trawl limits entangle Zone C lobstermen October 9, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on Environment, News, Waterfront DEER ISLE — October is a peak month, according to the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, for feistiness in Maine’s population of hornets and wasps. Lobstermen too, judging by last week’s meeting of the Zone C Lobster Management Council at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. The principal irritant is the still-simmering conflict over a …
Busy weekend for MMA sailors October 9, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront CASTINE — With a new coach taking the helm this fall, the Maine Maritime Academy sailing team has still managed to maintain a busy schedule. Last weekend, six Mariner sailors traveled to Larchmont, N.Y, to race in the Storm Trysail Foundation’s annual Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. Hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club, this year’s event drew …
Dead seals in Winter Harbor part of “unusual mortality event” October 3, 2018 by Maxwell Hauptman on Environment, News, Waterfront WINTER HARBOR — Two dead seals that washed ashore last month near Winter Harbor are part of what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared an “unusual mortality event” that is spreading north through the Gulf of Maine. “The first one was an adult male harbor seal spotted near the Frazer Point picnic …
Talk on soft-shell clams in Lamoine October 2, 2018 by Staff on News, Waterfront LAMOINE — The Lamoine Conservation Commission is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Lamoine Consolidated School. Brian Beal, professor of marine ecology at the University of Maine Machias and director of the marine field station at UMM, will be speaking about his decades-long research on soft-shell clams. Since …
Eastern Maine Skippers event focuses on rapid changes in fishing industry October 2, 2018 by Maxwell Hauptman on News, Waterfront WINTER HARBOR — Commercial fishing is one of Maine’s oldest industries. It is also facing rapid adjustments based on environmental changes and emerging technologies. More than 100 Downeast area high school students gathered at the Schoodic Institute last week as part of the Eastern Maine Skippers Program to learn about these changes. The event was …
Seacoast Mission vessel Sunbeam V visits Billings Diesel October 2, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront STONINGTON — The Maine Seacoast Mission vessel Sunbeam V sailed into Stonington on Thursday, Sept. 13, for the boat’s annual routine maintenance visit to Billings Diesel & Marine. Missing the tide by just 15 minutes, the Sunbeam V waited until the next day to be hauled out of the water at the shipyard located, appropriately, …
Bagaduce River gets another oyster farm October 1, 2018 by Stephen Rappaport on News, Waterfront PENOBSCOT — Some people like their oysters dressed with just a squirt of lemon juice. Some people prefer a mignonette with wine vinegar and shallots. In Penobscot, the choice may well be hot sauce. Late last month, Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher signed off on a 10-year aquaculture lease that will allow the …
