INCORPORATING THE INTER-ISLAND NEWS THE WORKING VOLUME 14, No. 7 AUGUST, 2001 FREE WATERFRONT Published monthly by the Island Institute www.islandinstitute.org Inshore Eastport Boat School "in process herring of evolution' fisher men By Bob Gustafson fear for G eorge Harris, an Eastporter who's been fishing and working for 60 years, says he believes that the Washington County Technical College's their Marine Technology Center, better known as the Eastport Boat School, has forgotten its mandate and lost its way. But WCTC President William Flahive says that future the Boat School is in the "process of evolution" and that the school has not abandoned its responsibility to the local community. The difference of opinion comes in the wake of the Boat School director's resignation, questions about boat storage on school property, and a Deep Cove pier and a travelift both in need of repair. The director, Tom Duym, plans to oversee a marine technology program in the Deer Isle-Stonington school system. Stop seining Atlantic herring, circa 1967. Fishermen in the dory are drying up net by hand and pumping fish out to a On the issue of boat storage, Flahive says letters sardine carrier. Man on stern is collecting separated herring scales in basket for pearlescence factory to use in cos- were sent to boat owners "trying to clear the slate" ask- metics, paints and other products (Richard Merrill photo). ing them to pay their storage fees. By Ben Neal legally in Maine waters, but Maine fishermen feel that "They said it didn't apply to me," says Harris, these out-of-state vessels are taking over what has been whose QUODDY DAM was on school property. "But the envelope said, 'George Harris. He added, "How S everal small-boat herring fishermen are feeling to date for the most part a fishery traditionally conduct- fearful for their future in the herring industry after ed by smaller, in-state vessels. do they expect people to pay storage fees when they the appearance in Maine coastal waters of two Several small purse-seiners and carriers who haven't sent out bills?" freezer-trawlers. Worries are growing that these vessels deliver fish for them operate in the midcoast region. But for Harris, the more serious issue is the will take traditional bait markets, that they are unduly These vessels fish for herring at night, when the fish school's relationship with the community in general disrupting the herring schools, and that they will con- rise up to the surface, and sell most of their catch in the and, more specifically, access to Deep Cove and being tribute to an early shut-down of the fishery due to catch- morning to lobstermen for use as bait. The carriers dis- able to haul out and repair boats on school property. He ing up much of the allocated quota. These boats operate Continued on page 5 Continued on page 17 INSID E Portland's Gateway project debated By Joan Amory The ramifications of these potential developments Syd echo up and down the waterfront and on the Casco Bay Davis: P ortland's Ocean Gateway project proposes sig- islands. Portlanders have not been shy voicing their nificant changes to the harbor and waterfront. opinions at planning and City Hall meetings, in letters The project would convert the International still and newspaper op-ed pieces, and in the online Marine Terminal (IMT) to an all-cargo ship facility and Discussion Forum in the Portland Citizens' Waterfront fishing move the SCOTIA PRINCE ferry from the IMT to Pier Forum website (www.portlandcitizen.org). 2 on the eastern side of Portland harbor where Bath Iron The plan for Ocean Gateway grew out of a 1998 at 82 Works (BIW) has been located until now. The Ocean Cargo and Passenger Study (CAPS). The CAPS study Gateway project also calls for new facilities for visiting found that the IMT had insufficient berthing and land to cruise ships to be built at the former BIW site. BIW is accommodate anticipated growth in both cargo and pas- consolidating operations at its Bath headquarters. (For senger volume. Cargo operations, whose current eco- the time being, BIW is retaining its option to purchase nomic impact on the region is $350 million annually, its Portland site through Dec. 31, 2001.) Continued on page 4 THE WORKING INTER Steve Cartwright photo see page 19 WATERFRONT ISLAND NEWS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lobster tagging page 2 P.O. BOX 648 ROCKLAND, ME 04841 ROCKLAND, ME 04841 PERMIT NO. 251 Canada's new fisher- CAR-RT SORT men's code page 2 POSTAL CUSTOMER Ed Myers page 9 Grindle Point light- house's ghost(s) page 12 see page 10 Sandy Oliver page 24 Book review page 25 671