Gov. John Baldacci will speak at a press conference intended to bring attention to the value of Maine’s working waterfront and the need to protect and sustain it. The press conference, sponsored by Maine’s Working Waterfront Coalition, will be held Tuesday, May 27, at 11:15 in the Hall of Flags at the Statehouse in Augusta.

Also scheduled to speak are Senator Dennis Damon (D-Mount Desert), Rep. Leila Percy (D-Phippsburg), and Dave Cousens of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

Maine’s Working Waterfront Coalition, comprised of 12 marine-related organizations representing more than 30,000 jobs, was formed earlier this year (WWF May 03) to support and enhance Maine’s working waterfront through policy, planning, investment and education. Recognizing that Maine’s $740 million fishing and marine trade industry is in jeopardy due to the dramatically disappearing access to waterfront usage, the coalition intends to offer solutions to this growing problem.

Coalition members believe that a vital part of the solution is allowing properties related to commercial fishing to be taxed on their current use, rather than their “highest and best” use as required under Maine law. During the next 18 months, the Coalition intends to conduct public forums, meet with legislators and counsel public officials. The goal is to change state law to allow current-use taxation on commercial properties.

Members of Maine’s Working Waterfront Coalition include Associated Fisheries of Maine, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Island Institute, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Fishermen’s Wives Association, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Maine Marine Trades Association, Maine Sea Grant Program, Maine State Planning Office Coastal Program, Muscongus Bay Realty, Northend Cooperative and the Sunrise County Economic Council.