Category: Coastal Conversations

Coastal Conversations 2/22/19

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Portland’s Working Waterfront at a Crossroads

What is the history of Portland’s working waterfront and what role does it play in the state’s fishing industry?
What changes are fishermen and wharf owners experiencing on the waterfront?
How has Portland’s mixed use zoning changed over the last several decades and how has this impacted water dependent industries?
What is the status of development on the waterfront in Portland today?
What would fishermen and wharf owners like the Portland waterfront to be in the future?

Guests:
John Bisnette, fisherman
Jim Buxton, fisherman
Bill Coppersmith, fisherman
Keith Lane, fisherman
Willis Spear, fisherman
Greg Turner, fisherman
Charlie Poole, owner of Union Wharf

Coastal Conversations 1/25/19 (web only) & 1/31/19

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Note: Because of storm-related power outages in the area, Coastal Conversation aired only via live stream on it’s usual air date, 1/25/19. It was rebroadcast on 1/31/19.

Maine coastal and ocean issues: The Maine Ocean School

Key Discussion Points:
-Interviews with students, faculty and board members at the Maine Ocean School, a new public magnet school based in Searsport with a mission to provide a theme-based high school education focused on the ocean.
-Students talk about their aspirations for the future and how the Ocean School will help them get there.
-Founders talk about how this unique educational model came about with support from marine industry members from throughout the state.
-Teachers talk about the school’s innovative curriculum.

Guests:

The 12 students of the Maine Ocean School‘s inaugural class
Leslie Gregroy, Lead Teacher, Maine Ocean School
Meg Begley, Teacher, Maine Ocean School
James Gillway,school founder and chairman of the Maine Ocean School Foundation Searsport Town Manager, State Representative
Gayle Zydlewski, member of the board of trustees of the Maine Ocean School
University of Maine Associate Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of Maine Sea Grant
Almon D. (Bud) Rivers, member of the board of trustees, Maine Ocean School Searsport Emergency Management Director

Coastal Conversations 11/23/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Guest Co-producers for this show: Corina Gribble, Ela Keegan, and Katie Clark, College of the Atlantic students

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Stories from the nation’s island-based working waterfronts

Key Discussion Points:
1. Year-round island communities in Maine, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Great Lakes all share the need for an active working waterfront for survival.
2. Interviews recorded at the National Working Waterfront Symposium in May 2018
3. Stories from island residents, fishermen, municipal officials, a marine suveyor and others about the importance of ferry service, a good relationship with the adjoining mainland, parking.
4. Demographic changes are moving many island working waterfronts from fisheries based to tourism based.

Guests:
Matthew Preisser, Lansing, MI, Lake Coordinator, Michigan Office of the Great Lakes
Steve Train, Long Island, ME, Commercial Lobsterman
Duke Marshall & Mark Nelson, Smith Island, MD, Smith Island United
Russ Brohl, South Bass Island, OH, Retired Ship Captain, Member of the Port Authority
Peter Huston, South Bass Island, OH, Filmmaker
Donald McCann, Fleets Island, VA, Marine Surveyor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Andy Dorr, Vinalhaven, ME, Vinalhaven Town Manager
Hattie Train, Long Island, ME, Undergraduate, University of Maine, and Commercial Lobsterman

Coastal Conversations 10/26/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Tourism and Community Development Downeast

Key Discussion Points:
A) Are tourism and quality of life for locals mutually exclusive?
B) How do initiatives like Heart of Ellsworth contribute to community vitality?
C) Some areas (such as Bar Harbor) seek to balance too much tourism; most other places in the region seek to grow more tourism.
D) How do partnerships like Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism benefit tourism businesses as well as local communities who strive to balance the two.

Guests:
Crystal Hitchings, Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism and Washington County Council of Governments
Alvion Kimball, Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism and former inn owner
Cara Romano, Heart of Ellsworth
Megan Moshier, Schoodic Institute

Coastal Conversations 9/28/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine clams: what is causing their decline and how do we bring them back?

Why are clams declining? Rising sea temperatures, green crabs, milky ribbon worms.
What does the research show us? Over 99% of settled clams are being eaten (mostly by green crabs) before they reach 1 years old
What can we do about the decline? Options for changing management.

Guests:
Dr. Brian Beal — Professor of Marine Ecology at the University of Maine at Machias and Director of Research at the Downeast Institute.
Sara Randall — Associate Director of the Downeast Institute
Chad Coffin– Professional Clammer and President of the Maine Clammers Association

Coastal Conversations 8/24/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Hancock County’s Conserved Lands

-What are some important conservation projects in the region right now?
-How does a land trust work? What is a conservation easement?
-How do conservation areas benefit the local community?
-What is a working forest, and working farm?

Guests:
Aaron Dority, Executive Director, Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Hans Carlson, Executive Director of Blue Hill Heritage Trust
Bob DeForrest, Project Manager Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Coastal Conversations 7/27/18

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum Part 2

Hosted by fishermen for fishermen, the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum is THE place to learn about current issues facing the fishing industry and the coast of Maine. At the 2018 Forum this past Winter, Maine Sea Grant, The First Coast and College of the Atlantic recorded dozens of stories for the “Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum” collection. WERU aired some of these stories on Coastal Conversations back in March, but we are ready for more!

Guests: Today’s five Voices of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum include an elver fishermen, a herring purse seiner, and schooner captain, a fisheries advocate, and a fishermen’s wife.

Coastal Conversations 6/22/18

Producer/Host: Catherine Schmitt
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Coastal communities and environments: Maine bird populations

Key Discussion Points:
a) status of Maine bird populations and Bird Atlas initiative
b) conservation of birds and bird habitat
c) citizen science opportunities

Guests:
Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon
Chris Bartlett, Maine Sea Grant
Jeff Wells, Boreal Songbird Initiative