|
|
|
Feature Articles
|
Maine waterfront coalition launches campaign
|
This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.
by Janice M. Plante
| |
|
| |
|
Maine Working Waterfront Coalition poster
|
AUGUSTA, ME - Operating under the banner "Maine's Working Waterfront Coalition," several of this state's biggest fishing industry associations and marine related agencies recently joined hands in a determined quest to preserve what's left of the working waterfront.
Already, they have won over a powerful advocate - Gov. John Baldacci.
Baldacci gave the keynote address at the coalition's May 27 kick-off press conference, which was held in the Hall of Flags at the State House.
"The governor acknowledged that this is an issue he cares about. He was there to show his support for the efforts of the Working Waterfront Coalition," said Elizabeth Sheehan of Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Portland, one of the lead organizers of the coalition.
Patrice Farrey, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA), which is also part of the coalition, added, "I think the governor understands that the economic well-being of the fishing industry depends on us figuring out this waterfront access issue."
Besides the MLA, the coalition's membership includes Associated Fisheries of Maine, the Maine Fishermen's Wives Association, and numerous local and state agencies, nonprofits, and educational institutions such as the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Island Institute, the Maine Sea Grant Program, and the Maine State Planning Office Coastal Program.
"We thought that collectively, we'd have greater impact," said Sheehan.
Farrey said, "The coalition is very diverse. We have people with a lot of different skills."
So little access
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Maine's Working Waterfront Coalition kicked off its campaign to preserve working waterfront access with a press conference at the State House. (Photo by Hugh Cowperthwaite/CEI photo)
|
According to the coalition, Maine's coastline totals 7,000 miles when intertidal land, including estuaries, plus islands are taken into account.
Yet less than 1% of that staggering coastal mileage is devoted to working waterfront, even though Maine's piers and wharves made it possible in 2001 for fishermen to land 269 million pounds of seafood, which generated $740 million in economic income and produced 26,000 fishing-related jobs.
Furthermore, the coalition emphasized that nearly 3,000 water-dependent marine trade people - boat builders, boat yards, and marinas - generated an additional $85 million in wages.
Commercial fishermen and industry service providers, however, won't be able to carry on at this rate if docks and piers keep being bought out at exorbitant prices and turned into condos and restaurants.
"People are scared they're going to lose their businesses because of access," said Farrey. "Once that access is gone, it's gone. We see it happening everywhere."
Road to preservation
Coalition members held the well-attended press conference to raise visibility and let state legislators and the public learn more about the seriousness of the situation.
Driving home their point, coalition organizers handed out posters stating: "Behind every fishing boat is a strong working waterfront."
According to Sheehan, the coalition believes waterfront preservation will involve three significant types of action:
- Legislative relief so fishing-related waterfront property can be taxed on "current use" instead of "highest and best" use;
- Strong community planning at the local level in the zoning and ordinance departments; and
- Public as well as private investment in harbors and piers.
Tax relief
The coalition intends to pursue the tax relief issue this fall with the Maine Legislature, and it appears to have supporters to help guide the effort.
State Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Mount Desert) and Rep. Leila Jane Percy (D-Phippsburg) both spoke at the press conference along with Baldacci. MLA President David Cousens and Susan Swanton of the Maine Marine Trade Association also took part in getting the message out.
"We understand this is going to be a long-term effort, but it's so important to us," said Farrey. "We've got to be up there front-and-center advocating for access. But we're hopeful. We think we can put tools in the toolbox to help people keep their property as working waterfront."
For more information or to join the coalition, contact CEI's Sheehan at (207) 772-5356 or e-mail mes@ceimaine.org.
|
|
