Articles
Maine-Canada ferry relaunch delayed
The Canadian government solicited proposals from interested operators with five potential operators responding. However, the commission reported that none of the operators had the financial backing needed to resume service. Commission officials made the following comments in a January 2011 news release. “The Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission has been in ongoing communication with possible providers
Nova Scotia considers restoration of ferry service
“We put out a call for proposals,” said Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission’s CEO Dave Whiting in September, adding that five companies responded to the call by requesting proposal paperwork, which is due back in Nova Scotia by October 15. Whiting said that the proposals would include a business plan, an operations plan and details on
Lobsters of many colors
When 13-year-old Kevin Thibodeau hauled his lobster traps in Georgetown’s Harmon’s Harbor recently, he had a pleasant surprise. Inside one of his traps was a rare calico lobster, which he describes as black and orange with bumps all over the shell. “It was really bright,” said Kevin who is a fifth-generation lobsterman. “It has a
Successful red tide monitoring program could lose funding
A state program that monitors red tide to allow for precise closures of shellfish areas is in danger of running out of funds. The biotoxin monitoring program, which was first instituted during the 2006 red tide season, allows for “surgical closures” during red tide events, allowing the state Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to be
Hard times revive memories of the Great Depression
Skyrocketing oil prices and record numbers of foreclosures have many people living on the edge. Such difficult times revive memories, for some coastal residents, of the Great Depression years. Eighty-four year old Rockland resident Bettina Dobbs lived in Massachusetts during that era. She recalls that the prevailing attitude of the day was fear. “When I
Bremen-baked gingerbread sea creatures reach far-flung destinations
About five years ago, Bremen resident Kim McClain was baking gingerbread cookies, in her warm coastal kitchen, with a group of students enrolled in the Jobs for Maine’s Graduates program. (McClain’s job was to assist the students in developing life and work skills.) Surrounded by students (some of whom were lobstermen) and the tantalizing smell
Dispute lingers over state’s 2005 red tide fund
When money from Maine’s 2005 Red Tide Disaster Relief Fund was disbursed by mail recently, some shellfish harvesters say they got a surprise in their envelope instead of a relief check. A number of harvesters were reportedly under the impression that because they were issued an application, they were eligible to apply for compensation. Instead,
Disaster fund helps shellfish harvesters
After prolonged red tide closures in 2005, help is finally on the horizon for Maine’s shellfish industry. Department of Marine Resources (DMR) scientist Darcie Couture said recently that Jan. 31, 2007, was the target date for mailing out relief checks from the $2 million Red Tide Disaster Relief Fund approved by Congress last year. She
Council to tag lobsters caught in Maine
Maine’s lobster promotion council recently launched a new consumer protection program to ensure what’s marketed as “Maine lobster” is “the real thing.” The council is now distributing ID tags bearing the federally registered trademark “Certified Maine Lobster” to lobster dealers throughout the state. The front of the tag is imprinted with the picture of a
Coastal hospitality businesses respond to high gas prices
Along Maine’s coastline, where many businesses make the bulk of their annual profit during the summer months, many business owners have been concerned that the rising gasoline prices could cause a big dip in their profits this year. Some, however, have taken proactive measures to help counteract the negative effects of the rising prices. The