First published in Landings, September 2023 The headlines were designed to shock: “Marine Heat Records Shattered” “Unprecedented Temperatures at Sea” or, as NASA put it, “The Ocean has a Fever.” Sea surface temperatures throughout the … Continue reading
In the News
Gouldsboro lobster facility purchased at auctionIn June, two Schoodic-area businessmen successfully bid in the auction of a defunct seafood processing plant in Gouldsboro. Tim Ring, founder of Ring Paving, and Kevin Barbee of Barbee Construction … Continue reading
Wind energy moving fast in the Gulf of Maine
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held a two-day meeting of the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force in Bangor in May. The Task Force is composed of federal, state, local and … Continue reading
BOEM Seeks Public Input on Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Energy Areas
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in late April published its Gulf of Maine Call for Information and Nominations (Call). This Call invites public comment on, and assesses interest in, possible commercial wind energy … Continue reading
Draft Addendum 27 Calls for LMA 1, LMA 3 Gauge Increases
Maine lobstermen will have the opportunity to voice their thoughts about the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) draft Addendum 27 to the lobster fishery management plan at three public hearings in early March. The … Continue reading
Guest Column: Climate is the real culprit in the whale saga
In following the rollercoaster of how new regulations designed to protect the North Atlantic right whale will impact Maine’s lobster fishery and the communities the industry supports, two recent announcements stuck out to me. One … Continue reading
New report shows 2022 another hot year in the Gulf of Maine
A report released by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in February ranked 2022 as the second warmest year ever recorded for the Gulf. The report says the Gulf’s average sea surface temperature (SST) in … Continue reading
Lobster is the Engine of the Southern Maine Economy
How important is the lobster fishery to the Maine coast? What will be the economic impact of a reduction in the harvest due to regulations or a changing Gulf of Maine? We continue our three-part … Continue reading
Governor Announces Intent to Develop Offshore Wind off Southern Maine
To solidify Maine’s leadership in floating offshore wind energy and collaborate with Maine’s fisheries on the industry’s development, Governor Janet Mills today announced the State’s plan to create the country’s first floating offshore wind research … Continue reading
Climate Council Seeks Public Input on Strategies to Protect Coastal Communities, Economies
In June, the Maine Climate Council released 35 draft strategies in six different topic areas for the state’s Climate Action Plan, due to the Legislature in December. The Council is charged with developing a plan … Continue reading