Page updated on 11/29/07
 

New Tools to Help Save Maine’s Working Waterfront

     
     Maine’s Working Waterfront Coalition has been hard at work over the past few years to create new tools to keep Maine’s fishing communities viable and waterfronts working.  Two important new programs will soon be underway after being approved by the Legislature last spring, and by Maine citizens during this past November election.  Maine DMR and SPO will be managing the new Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program, which was made possible for $2 million in bond money passed under Question 5.  The program will provide up to 50% of the acquisition costs for waterfront businesses in order to prevent working waterfront from being converted to other uses.  The current use tax program, Question 7 on the ballot will allow “waterfront land used to support commercial fishing” to be taxed as a fishing business.  The details of exactly how the program will be defined and run will be worked out by the Legislature this spring.  Attendees learned more about how these two exciting new programs could help fishermen and communities save their working waterfronts.

     Host:  Patrice McCarron, MLA