Four new Working Waterfront Access Protection Projects are approved

Hallowell, Maine -- October 12, 2011. Four new working waterfront projects were approved by the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Board at their meeting in Augusta on October 4. In a joint statement, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Land for Maine's Future Program announced that four separate awards totaling $854,000 were made to Great Wass Lobster & Bait Co in Beals, Quoddy Bay Lobster Inc. in Eastport, J.O. Brown & Son Inc. in North Haven and the South Bristol Fishermen's Co-op in South Bristol through the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP). The goal of the program is to preserve and protect strategically significant coastal waterfront properties that provide access for and support to Maine's commercial fishing activities.

The funds from the WWAPP will purchase a working waterfront covenant on each property that will restrict any future development of the land that conflicts with fisheries uses. DMR Acting Commissioner Pat Keliher, who is also a member of the LMF Board, stated *"I was pleased to see that the WWAPP continues to attract such high quality applications from projects that make significant contributions to the local economies of the regions in which they are located. Together these four fishing facilities serve nearly 130 commercial lobster boats, and over 200 fishing families in the mid-coast and Downeast rely upon these access points for their livelihood"*.

The WWAPP is jointly administered by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Land for Maine's Future Program. The WWAPP provides monies though a competitive application process in the form of matching funds to commercial fisheries businesses, municipalities, non-profits, co-ops, and others with waterfront land that provides access and support critical to the ongoing activities of our commercial fisheries. In its decision the LMF Board recognized that these properties are important to the state's economy and to the welfare of their host towns.

Great Wass Lobster & Bait Co is a 0.8 acre property on Beals Island with 238 ft. of frontage and a tidal lobster pound. The property is one of the most heavily used commercial fishing properties on the island. The owner plans to use program funds to erect a bait cooler and extend his wharf into deeper water. *"I'm so elated that I'm getting the help I've been hoping for. These improvements will help the local fisherman now and into the future. I'm appreciative and I can now realize my dream of making this property top notch"* said Galen Alley.

Quoddy Bay Lobster Inc. is a family owned business on a .59 acre lot along Eastport's waterfront. The property has 230 feet of shoreline, ample parking and a mechanical hoist on the pier. The owners plan to use the WWAPP award to rebuild their pier with a 20 ft. extension and an 8 ft. increase in width to better enable them to buy from other boats in the area. The business plans to land scallops and urchins in 2012. Plans include the installation of a new hoist, new pilings, a ramp and float system to accommodate all tide access for commercial boats, and the relocation of their bait storage to the end of the pier. The Eastport Chamber of Commerce recently recognized Quoddy Bay Lobster with "2011 Business of the Year".

J.O. Brown & Son Inc. in North Haven has been a family run boatyard for 123 years, providing access to commercial fishermen and services including fuel, repairs, launching, and storage. It is one of the only properties on the island to offer fishing access in the central downtown area of North Haven. The property includes an iconic 95 ft. long building, a former clam factory and cannery which now houses boat repair and servicing operations. With 0.81 acres and 280 ft. of linear frontage, the property provides transient dockage for about 30 commercial boats, fuels them, and allows loading and unloading of gear. Planned improvements include the removal of the wharf on the western side of the main building and constructing a wider (by 10 feet) and longer (by 30 feet) replacement that would be concrete topped and allow more all-tide access for fishermen. A derrick hoist will be installed on the eastern side offering fishermen unlimited use for handling of gear. A dinghy float will be added for ease of reaching nearby moorings. Together, these improvements would create the only permanently dedicated fishing access on the island. Kim Alexander who put the WWAPP proposal together with her son Adam said *"We are grateful and excited for this opportunity to fund the wharf expansion, without this award it wouldn't have been possible. It's a win - win for everyone. As a small family business it gives us the boost financially we needed to make major improvements, keeping our business viable in the future. For the island fishermen having a permanent access point with all tide use and a derrick is a huge improvement for safety and efficiency. For the island community as a whole it's vitally important to keep our economy moving forward."*

The South Bristol Co-op was founded in 1972 on 1.25 acres with 280 feet of frontage. About 40 boats access the well maintained piers that extend across the entire frontage providing about 12,400 square feet of useful space accessing all tide deepwater. The Co-op provides berthing space for members, gas and diesel fuel, a refrigerated bait cooler and parking for 40 vehicles. The Co-op plans to use their award to upgrade the fuel storage system and replace a portion of the main pier and about a third of their floats.

Applications for a second round are being sought by November 7, 2011. For additional information on the WWAPP, please visit the program website http://www.wwapp.org/" target="_blank">www.wwapp.org or contact:

Dick Clime, WWAPP Administrator, for Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, or Washington Counties. Coastal Enterprises Inc., P.O. Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578, tel. 207-882-7552 ext. 191, rdc@ceimaine.org.

Hugh Cowperthwaite, WWAPP Supervisor, for York, Cumberland, and Sagadahoc Counties. Coastal Enterprises Inc., 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 206, Portland, ME 04101, tel. 207-772-5356 ext. 120, hsc@ceimaine.org.