Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

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  • This project developed a participatory, place-based approach for assessing the vulnerability and resilience of Maine fishing communities, documenting threats and resources available to respond to those threats. To understand the forces driving vulnerability, Johnson and graduate students Cameron Thompson and Anna Henry worked with community stakeholders to identify opportunities and strategies for improving resilience of fishing communities. They produced a summary report, entitled, “In Their Own Words: Fishermen’s Perspectives of Community Resilience.” 

    Once upon a time, Maine fishermen and women harvested a diversity of species, from groundfish and herring to lobsters, clams, shrimp, and scallops, depending on market conditions and resource abundance. Today, Maine’s fishing culture is concentrated in 50 coastal communities and is overwhelmingly dependent on lobster, while regulations have restricted other fisheries. Since 1990, the number of vessels landing groundfish in Maine dropped from 350 to 70. At least 72 groundfish permits have been lost, and dramatic changes in management are imminent, leading Johnson to wonder, “How vulnerable are Maine’s fishing communities? What can be done to improve their resiliency to future change?”

    These are the questions that federal fisheries managers must ask when assessing the impact of new rules, yet too often they don’t have the right data to answer the questions. This project developed a participatory, place-based approach for assessing the vulnerability and resilience of Maine fishing communities, documenting threats and resources available to respond to those threats. To understand the forces driving vulnerability, Johnson and graduate students Cameron Thompson and Anna Henry worked with community stakeholders to identify opportunities and strategies for improving resilience of fishing communities.

Interviewee Sort ascending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
John Williams Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

John Williams is a seasoned commercial fisherman hailing from Stonington with a lineage deeply rooted in the maritime tradition. His initiation into the fishing world began in his formative years, working alongside his father, which laid the foundation for the eventual captaincy of his own vessel. Williams' expertise spans a diverse array of fishing methods, including lobstering, groundfishing, and scalloping, showcasing his adaptability and depth of knowledge within the industry.

Mike Kersula Stonington, ME University of Maine
John Phinney Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

John Phinney, born in 1967 in Utah, has spent most of his life in Lubec, Maine. His family has a long history in the seafood industry, with his father working as a fish buyer, coordinating with boats and processing plants. In the mid-70s, his family started a business on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, which they sold in the mid-80s to move to Lubec. After serving in the military for six years, Phinney took over the family business in 1998, renaming it Phinney Fisheries.

Cameron Thompson Lubec, ME University of Maine
Hugh French Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Hugh French is a lifelong resident of Eastport, Maine, who has witnessed the economic shifts in his community over the years. Although he was never directly involved in the fishing industry, he has a deep understanding of its impact on the local economy, particularly the rise and decline of the sardine industry and the increased dependence on lobstering. French is currently the Director of the Tides Institute, a position that allows him to observe and contribute to the community's development.

Anna Henry Eastport, ME University of Maine
Howie Edwards Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Interview with Howie Edwards, who was born in Rockland, Maine. In this oral history interview, he describes changes in the community of Rockland as well as the canning industry.

Cameron Thompson Rockland, ME University of Maine
Hollis Matthews and Wayne Wilcox Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Hollis Matthews was born in 1925 and has spent the majority of his life in Eastport, Maine. Before his career as a customs officer, Matthews worked in the local fisheries, where he was involved in the processing of fish for various uses such as canning, fishmeal, pet foods, and scales. He retired from his customs officer position in 1990. Matthews is also known for his extensive collection of photographs, many of which were given to him by members of the community. Wayne Wilcox was born in 1954 and, like Matthews, was born and raised in Eastport, Maine.

Anna Henry Eastport, ME University of Maine
Glenn Robbins Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Glenn Robbins was born in January of 1947 in Castine, Maine. In this interview, he discusses his work teaching industrial arts and as a commercial fisherman. He has been fishing commercially since 1978.
 

Cameron Thompson Eliot, ME University of Maine
Gary Libby Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Interview with Gary Libby of Port Clyde, ME. Libby was born in Thomaston on April 26, 1958. born in Camden. Lives in Port Clyde, ME. Gary has served on shrimp and groundfish Advisory Panels and on a forage fish group as well. He grew up in Thomaston and started digging clams at 12 years of age. His father purchased a groundfish boat and Gary began to work aboard ship. He has also worked in scallops and aboard trip vessels, dragging for groundfish. He worked on deck for a number of years while fishing with his brother.

Cameron Thompson Port Clyde, ME University of Maine
Eugene Greenlaw Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Eugene Greenlaw, born in 1949, is a lifelong resident of Lubec, Maine, with a brief period of service in the Navy. His first involvement in commercial fishing began with a job at a sardine factory in Lubec, where he worked for 31 years and eventually became the plant manager in 1998. Greenlaw has been commercially fishing for lobster since 1972 and has also fished for scallops, sea urchins, and herring at different times throughout his career.

Cameron Thompson Lubec, ME University of Maine
Edward French Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Edward French, born in 1959, is a lifelong resident of Eastport, Maine, with a deep-rooted history in commercial fishing. His first involvement in the industry was as a crew member on a herring carrier, and he later ventured into tub trawling and scalloping on his own during the summer and fall seasons. In addition to his hands-on experience in the fisheries, French has also covered the industry for the local newspaper, Quoddy Tides.

Anna Henry Eastport, ME University of Maine
Doug Anderson Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities

Douglas Anderson Jr. was born in 1948, in Rockland, Maine, and has spent his entire life in Port Clyde, Maine, where he currently resides. He comes from a long line of fishermen, with both his mother's and father's sides of the family deeply involved in the fishing industry. His father was contracted to build a herring plant in Port Clyde in the 1940s, and Douglas was introduced to the fishing lifestyle at a young age, much like a child growing up on a farm. His heritage and early exposure to the industry led him to pursue a career in fishing, which he has thoroughly enjoyed.

Anna Henry Port Clyde, ME University of Maine