Communities and Economies
Maine’s first coastal communities and ways of life were established by indigenous people. Through centuries of change and conflict, coastal communities have relied on the seasonal bounty of our diverse coastal ecosystems for survival, cultural and spiritual heritage, recreation, and economic prosperity. From fish and shellfish to granite, salt, and a tradition of building wooden ships, these connections between our ecosystems and our economy have evolved over time. Today, they include the generation of electricity from hydropower and now ocean renewable energy, as well as aquaculture farms and new non-food uses of marine species in technology and commercial products. Tourism, recreation, and the arts have remained important economic drivers and cultural assets.
Including coastal islands, Maine’s shoreline stretches for 5,300 miles, yet only about 12% supports public shoreline access. The vast majority is held in private ownership, including much of the infrastructure that supports marine and coastal industries. Working waterfronts and other infrastructure are vulnerable to conversion to residential and other private uses. Year-round residents in Maine’s coastal communities often struggle to find housing, afford their rent or mortgage and property taxes, and pay their bills in the face of increasing costs. Growth and change in coastal industries and other economic drivers have also changed workforce needs and job opportunities.
Demographic changes have accelerated over the past three decades, and were exacerbated by the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, often resulting in conflict around shared uses of coastal assets, increased demands on the coastal environment, and impacts on vulnerable populations. Inclusive and adaptive planning and management approaches are essential to provide flexible frameworks for shared and equitable uses of public assets. Efforts to support multi-disciplinary collaborations, build capacity for facilitation and community engagement, and create equitable access to diverse forms of information, educational resources, and decision-making processes are essential to build trust and avoid or manage conflicts as new challenges or opportunities emerge.
Our goal
Coastal communities are prepared to address current and emerging environmental, economic, and social/cultural challenges and opportunities using relevant scientific, local, and traditional knowledge and assets.