Protecting Working Waterfronts
It's hard to imagine a place like Maine without its working waterfronts. They're not only an iconic part of our state's history and landscape, but an irreplaceable resource for 30,000 thousand Mainers who make their living from marine-related industries.
But as valuable as they are to our communities, they make up only 20 miles of our 3,300-mile coastline. That makes them extremely vulnerable, since a development here or a few condos there can swallow a large percentage of what working land remains. Other emerging threats include climate change and ocean acidification.
We need tools to protect these valuable spots and ensure that Mainers can continue to make their living from the sea.
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More on Protecting Working Waterfronts
Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Buxton-based VitaminSea would receive a $600,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) USDA grant to further develop SeaKelp+, a kelp-based additive for bread.
Rockland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that the City of Rockland would receive an $830,000 federal grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), enough funding to move forward with plans to repair and update its aging Fish Pier.
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced that The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a nonprofit corporation established by the 2014 Farm Bill, has awarded Hugh Cowperthwaite of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) a $300,000 matching research grant. CEI has received the funding in order to investigate the economic viability of a Japanese scallop production technique that has been shown to grow scallops faster and produce larger meat yields.
"Working waterfronts are an integral part of the nation's coastal and Great Lakes economy and culture. Working waterfronts face multiple challenges, including permanent conversion to non-water-dependent uses and storm damage to already compromised waterfront infrastructure. Businesses that depend on working waterfront, from commercial fishermen to tour boat operators to waterborne trade, need solutions to work with states and municipalities to protect and enhance these critical economic assets."
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) advocated today for increased federal resources to help states preserve their working waterfronts at a hearing on her bipartisan bill, HR 1176, the Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act. The hearing was held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.