Maine's Working Waterfront Faces Lingering Challenges from 2024 Storms, Conference Reveals
Nearly three years after devastating January 2024 storms ravaged Maine's coast, the state's working waterfront continues to grapple with their lingering effects. This was the central theme of the first-ever Maine Working Waterfront Conference held in Bar Harbor. Coastal community groups gathered to discuss the ongoing impacts of storm damage and pre-existing challenges facing the seafood industry. Amity Chipman, co-owner of Chipman's Wharf seafood market in Milbridge, recounted the complete destruction of their wharf during the storms, which brought nearly 60 mph winds and severe flooding. Despite having insurance, their policy did not cover wind events, leaving them uncompensated. They eventually secured a matching grant from the Working Waterfront Resiliency Grant Program, launched in spring 2025, which was crucial for rebuilding. However, reconstruction has been slow and costly, with over $50,000 spent on permits alone and rising material prices exacerbating the financial strain. Other towns, like Milbr...