Things Look Different There

Our toddler finally made us go west. Record snowfall and a two-year old who didn’t like to wear clothes gave us cabin fever this past winter, so we accepted an invitation from my sister-in-law in Portland, Oregon for a month-long visit.

Fishing Smarter

With fewer traps and a longer season, Monhegan has its “best year ever”

Monhegan Island lobstermen are nearing the end of their first season under new rules. They are fishing a longer season with fewer traps per person, and so far, they’re having surprising success catching as many or more lobsters.

Navigating wakes and shoals, an association protects a river and its resources

Barnaby Porter, who has lived on the Damariscotta River for close to 40 years, tells the story of a day when he, his son and naturalists from the Chewonki Foundation tried to return an young osprey to the nest on a navigational marker that the bird had fallen from.

Opposition

Wind, tidal energy work best when out of sight

In a marine ecosystem often referred to as “the Saudi Arabia of wind,” where generation of unlimited amounts of this clean renewable energy are believed possible, some would-be ratepayers seem to care much as much about what’s on their horizons as their utility bills.

Grey seals proliferate along the Northeast coast, alarming fishermen

“They’re not spawning, they’re fleeing,” said Denny Morrow, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association, describing fish trying to avoid being eaten by grey seals that attack tight spawning schools.

Map encourages informed use

The Damariscotta River Association (DRA) recently published an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to explore any section of the Damariscotta River Estuary. “A Small Craft Explorers’ Map and Guide” was created through a collaborative effort of DRA and various users and protectors of the river.

Fundy Tidal Power: What Impact On Fisheries?

It’s no secret that tidal power is now being explored as a viable alternative to dependence on domestic and foreign fossil fuels. And the Bay of Fundy, with some of the highest tides in the world, is considered by experts to be a logical place for tidal power development.

Plans for port, recreation drawn for Sears Island

Marine transportation, recreation, education and conservation can coexist on Sears Island, according to members of the Joint Use Planning Committee, who have worked over the last nine months to delineate the island into 600 acres of conservation land and 341 acres zoned for transportation uses.

Going “Green” and Local Knowledge

Exporting our Problems

At the risk of appearing as if we’ve taken sides in a reliably contentious island issue, we’re publishing yet another story on island-based energy development.

A Coastal Companion: A Year in the Gulf Of Maine, From Cape Cod to Canada

Catherine Schmitt

SELF conference to engage local food producers, others

Rising Green

Grocers on the Maine coast join the sustainability revolution

Swan’s Island as in other communities, the definition of “sustainability” is evolving

At their town meeting, Cranberry Isles vote “green”