The European Union is taking on fishing reform. Its parliament voted 502-137 in February on a package that protects endangered stocks and ends the practice of throwing unwanted, dead fish overboard, the BBC reports. Such discards are believed to account for a quarter of all catch. The changes could become law next year. A spokeswoman
Robots sound ‘Thar she blows’
Timing is everything when it comes to managing areas in the Gulf of Maine where endangered North Atlantic right whales gather. The sooner the whales are spotted, the sooner NOAA officials can restrict fishing and shipping to protect them. On the flip side, the sooner it’s established that whales have left, the sooner ocean commerce
A few of our favorite (kitchen) things
The house is on fire. You grab the baby and chase the dogs and cats outside, but what in the kitchen do you dive back into the flames to rescue? Or you have to flee to a foreign country, like the mainland, and you grab the baby, put the cats and dogs into a crate
Chebeague islanders reassess after ferry bill is withdrawn
CHEBEAGUE — This winter, Chebeague Transportation Company stakeholders thought they had found a promising way to raise funds for a new ferry. The private company recently applied for non-profit status and then began collaborating with Rep. Stephen Moriarty, D-Cumberland, on legislation that would have reorganized the ferry service as a public transit district. The goal,
The Alcatraz of the willing
Through the hurricane season of late summer and fall, the long Maine winter and the exaggerated, shameless, Wellie-sucking mud of March and April — at least some years — we who live on islands are interrogated regularly by telephone, by text, by Internet, by single-sideband, by any other available means and asked the same question,
Small cars plus fast race equals big fun
ISLESBORO — Eight years ago when Gilbert Rivera moved from Southern California to Islesboro, he left behind slot car racing and a winning reputation in the sport. But not for long. Now he races on Islesboro, and is mentor to 11-year-old Aiden Randlett, who recently picked up honors in Mount Holly, New Jersey at the
Lobster union effort ignorant of history
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) has been proudly and effectively representing Maine lobstermen for 59 years. The MLA was organized in 1954 by lobstermen who had the foresight to understand that they would be better off working together than on their own. Over the years, the MLA has established a track record of being effective
‘Content’ is how Gaserpini describes his island life
VINALHAVEN — For Eric Gasperini, Vinalhaven is and always will be home. The 27-year-old grew up on the southerly Fox Island and attended public school there as well. His parents came to Vinalhaven as a teacher and a scallop dragger. “[My father] came to the island to pick up nets,” he said. Gasperini acknowledged the
College of the Atlantic divests of fossil fuels
BAR HARBOR — In March, College of the Atlantic completed the process of dropping fossil fuel investments from its endowment portfolio, according to school officials. The small school on Mount Desert Island, long known for its green focus, seemingly has become the first college or university in the country to end its investment in fossil
Slow, gentle spring mirrors island experience
Spring has taken its opening shots across our bow — ice is out, the crocuses are clustered around houses, and gardeners are shaking off the winter woolies to get seeds planted on windowsills and start turning over the soil in south-facing beds. At Chebeague Island School, the students love tucking lettuce and marigold seeds under