Coastal Conversations Radio Program: Southwest Harbor
Coastal Conversations show: February 23, 2024
WERU 89.9 in Blue Hill and 99.9 in Bangor
Host: Galen Koch, The First Coast & Island Institute
Listen to the show on WERU archives
This is Galen Koch, from The First Coast + Island Institute, and this month I’m hosting Coastal Conversations from the University of Maine Sea Grant Program.
Our next program features an episode of Island Institute’s podcast, From the Sea Up. We’ll travel to Southwest Harbor, a town of multiple maritime industries on the “quiet side” or Mount Desert Island and examine the history of that town’s decision, as a community, to maintain and support its commercial fisheries through zoning and regulations. Join me as we visit two iconic Southwest Harbor businesses, Hinckley Yachts and Beal’s Lobster Pier, to explore the push-and-pull of Maine’s seasonal economy, and the challenges and opportunities where commercial fishing, maritime industries, and recreation meet.
Make a note to tune in Friday afternoon, February 23 @ 4 pm, when this month’s Coastal Conversation takes us to Southwest Harbor’s working waterfront.
If you want to hear the complete information session (the show will only re-broadcast a portion of it), and Only on WERU community radio, 89.9 FM in Blue Hill and 99.9 in Bangor, and online at WERU.org.
Guests
Justin Snyder, Dock Manager, Beal’s Lobster Pier
Kathleen Leyden, Director of the Maine Coastal Program
Melissa Britsch, Senior Planner at the Maine Coastal Program
Kirk Ritter, General Manager at Hinckley Yachts
More information
MCP website: Maine Coastal Program | Department of Marine Resources
Shore and Harbor Grant: Shore and Harbor Planning Grants | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) – the program statement for the current year’s grant can be found on this page
Shore and Harbor Case Studies: Case Studies | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) This page has a map showing the locations of towns MCP funded, a list of funded projects, some write-ups about previous projects, and a story map highlighting last year’s MCP projects.
Resources for preserving commercial fishing access: Coastal Access | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) This document has a list of state grants that could be useful for improving and protecting shore access, as well as grants that can be used for waterfront construction.
Penobscot Bay Study: Penobscot Bay_Summary Report 12 23 19.pdf (maine.gov) This study by MCP took a really detailed look at a number of working waterfront.
Listen to the show on WERU archives
More information about Coastal Conversations Radio Program