Hollis Matthews and Wayne Wilcox
Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities
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.
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. Wilcox is known for his historical research and publications about the local area. He has been encouraged by Matthews and others to write a book about the history of Eastport. Wilcox also has a keen interest in the local fisheries and the individuals who have made a living from it.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Hollis Matthews and Wayne Wilcox, conducted by Anna Henry on July 26, 2011, provides a rich and detailed account of life in Eastport, Maine, with a particular focus on the local fisheries industry. Matthews and Wilcox discuss their personal experiences working in the fisheries and the changes they have witnessed over the years. They also discuss the impact of tourism and retirees on the town, expressing a positive view of these changes. The interview also touches on the history of Eastport, with Wilcox sharing his research on the Battle of the Sand Beach. The interview concludes with Matthews showing the interviewer his collection of photographs, which document the history and development of Eastport.
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