PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 28, 2020
A lawsuit could limit historical access to the working waterfront by commercial fishermen in Portland. The suit, filed by Soley Wharf LLC, seeks to clarify ownership of a waterfront alleyway that connects Custom House Wharf to Portland Pier. That alleyway has been used for decades by commercial fisherman to service their gear and boats and is a popular place for tourists to take pictures of the city’s working waterfront. An attorney who represents Soley Wharf said the suit does not aim to eliminate public access or prevent commercial fishermen from loading and offloading gear or accessing their boats. But it would allow the owners to enforce rules against fishermen parking their vehicles or storing their traps in the alley for long periods of time – a long-standing problem.