Page updated on 11/29/07
 

Securing Working Waterfront Access
 

     Maine’s Working Waterfront is under attack as properties along the coast continue to be converted to non-working waterfront uses. With only 25 miles of working coastline in Maine, we must reverse this trend. Maine’s Working Waterfront Coalition has been championing the development of a “tool box” to provide coastal communities with a variety of tools to take their own, local approach to their specific waterfront pressures.
     There are several proposals currently before the Maine Legislature including property tax reform, current use taxation and a working waterfront bond proposal which can serve as useful tools to help preserve our working waterfront. It is time for the fishing industry to stand together in support of the working waterfront and aid the passage of these important initiatives in the Legislature and the electorate.
     To help us better understand these legislative proposals, this seminar brought the fishing industry together with Administration officials and key legislators including Speaker Richardson, Senators Damon and Raye, and Representatives Kaelin, Percy, Pingree, and Piotti (as their schedules permit). These legislators, who are sponsors and co-sponsors of these working waterfront proposals, provided an update of progress in the Legislature to date.
     This session featured an explanation of the technical aspects of these proposals. We will also presented a case study of the Little River lobster buying station in East Boothbay and how the proposed bond could have impacted their situation. The working waterfront bond is a proactive investment by the state aimed at funding the preservation of working access to the coast. We also discussed the Coastal Enterprises, Inc. Farmlands model and how it helped to instruct our efforts to save our working waterfronts.
     Most importantly, this session included a discussion of how the fishing industry can work to ensure the successful passage of these proposals. If the working waterfront bond passes the Legislature, it will go before voters as part of a referendum question. A proposed Constitutional Amendment for current use taxation for working waterfronts did not survive the Referendum process a few years ago. Attendees learned how they could help ensure the successful passage of this bond.

     Host:  Patrice McCarron, Maine Lobstermen’s Association