Hugh French
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.
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. He has also been involved in recording oral histories, including those of individuals who were part of the sardine industry in the late '70s and early '80s.
Scope and Content Note:
This interview with Hugh French, conducted by Anna Henry on October 7, 2011, provides a comprehensive overview of the economic and social changes in Eastport, Maine, particularly in relation to the fishing industry. French discusses the decline of the sardine industry and the rise of lobstering, noting the impact of these shifts on the local economy and community. He also mentions the influence of the border community and the tightening of the border, which has affected the local fishing industry. French provides insights into the changes in the community, including the loss of population and the advent of the internet, which has allowed for better connectivity and new ways of working. He also discusses the role of fishing in the community, noting the decrease in factories and the increase in the fishing fleet, possibly due to more people engaging in lobstering or scalloping. The interview also touches on the impact of the Hague Line establishment on the community and the fish pier. French expresses the community's desire to maintain its ties with the sea and not become strictly a tourist community, emphasizing the importance of diversifying the local economy. The interview was part of the University of Maine project, “Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience in Maine Fishing Communities,” funded by Maine Sea Grant.
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