How to Save the Working Waterfront
I started working for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) in 2015. MCFA’s mission is to restore the fisheries in the Gulf of Maine and sustain Maine’s fishing communities for future generations. I run the Working Waterfront and Fishermen Wellness programs. I think my role in these programs is significant because I come from a fishing family and am deeply ingrained in the fishing community. Commercial fishing is incredibly complex and the lifestyle of a fishing family can be challenging for those outside our community to fully understand. In fact, over the last 15 years, I've dedicated myself to finding the best way to convey the unique cultural and community elements that are an integral part of being a fishing family. I don’t actually know how to save the working waterfront, but in my role at MCFA I have been able to hear from fishermen all along the coast about what concerns them in their community, and try to figure out ways that can help protect the future of the working waterfront.
Resources for Fishing Communities
MCFA’s Working Waterfront Inventory Template is a tool for municipal planning and preservation of the Working Waterfront. It can be utilized by towns updating their comprehensive plans or harbor plans.
Scuttlebutt: A Guide to Living and Working in a Waterfront Community
What is solastalgia?
Solastalgia is the unsettling feeling that individuals experience when the environment or place they call home undergoes rapid and distressing changes. It's akin to feeling homesick while still being in one's own home. For commercial fishermen, this emotional response, solastalgia, becomes palpable when their hometowns undergo transformations driven by external factors.
In recent times, coastal communities with vibrant working waterfronts have confronted an array of challenges. These challenges stem from climate-induced migration, the impacts of COVID-induced migration, and the rise of the work-from-home trend. The increasing cost of living and home prices adds to the complexity, making it increasingly difficult for fishermen to afford to remain in the communities they have cherished for generations. This economic strain, coupled with gentrification, exacerbates solastalgia by jeopardizing people's sense of belonging and identity. For these fishermen, deeply connected to both the land and sea, the sensation of being out of place becomes increasingly pronounced. Solastalgia represents a powerful emotional response to the intricate challenges that these communities are facing.
You can also learn about commercial fishermen and moral injury HERE.
Kids in our community love to ride around in a skiff in the cove. This is an important part of childhood for fishing families. It teaches kids responsibility, safety, and teamwork, and introduces them to the plethora of career options that exist on the water. It also teaches kids a healthy respect, appreciation, and adoration for the ocean and environment.
