Midcoast fishermen warn of ‘destructive’ end to Maine Sea Grant

TIMES RECORD • March 5, 2025

Last Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notified the University of Maine that it would immediately end its funding for the Maine Sea Grant — a key program that has bolstered coastal communities and created thousands of marine jobs over the past 50 years. In a termination letter NOAA official Timothy Carrington wrote that the activities of Maine Sea Grant are “no longer relevant to the Administration’s priorities and program objectives.” Wednesday, the administration agreed to renegotiate funding for Maine Sea Grant following conversations between U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The renegotiation would put funding back on the table so long as the work supported by the program “focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries.”

Feds restore Maine solar for all grant funding

MAINE PUBLIC • March 5, 2025

State energy officials have regained access to a $62 million dollar solar power award frozen in the early days of the Trump presidency. The Solar for All grant through the Environmental Protection Agency is intended to help low-income and disadvantaged households access solar power and energy storage. Maine lost the funding just days after President Trump took office.But on Tuesday, the Maine Governor’s Energy office said it is again able to access the fund.

Trump administration to 'renegotiate' Maine Sea Grant, after it initially pulled funding

MAINE PUBLIC • March 5, 2025

The U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday it will renegotiate the terms of the Maine Sea Grant. The Trump administration announced over the weekend that it was discontinuing a four-year, $4.5 million award to Maine Sea Grant, describing the program's activities as "no longer relevant to the focus of the administration’s priorities and program objectives." But on Wednesday afternoon, Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, announced that after conversations with her the day before, the Commerce Department agreed to modify the terms of the Sea Grant Award.

Flawed EIS for Kennebec Dams Ignores Calls for a Collaborative Recovery Solution

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • March 5, 2025

A final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued for four dams on Maine’s Kennebec River ignores the best available science and could doom endangered Atlantic salmon to extinction while harming recovery of other sea-run fish, according to a coalition of local residents, conservation organizations, and fishing groups, together with the Penobscot Nation and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Conservation Law Foundation. The EIS published by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ignores comments from more than 2,000 anglers, local businesses, scientists, and others who spoke at public hearings, submitted comments online, or signed a petition, all calling for a solution on the Kennebec that results in recovery of millions of sea-run fish, including critically endangered Atlantic salmon. FERC’s flawed EIS relies on engineered fish passage that has not worked anywhere else in the world.

Maine makes first purchase of farm contaminated by forever chemicals

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 5, 2025

Maine is the first state in the country to buy out a farmer driven off his land by forever chemicals. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry spent $333,000 from the state’s $60 million forever chemical relief fund to buy a secluded 24-acre hay field and 83 acres of forest in Palermo, according to state officials and county land records. “It’s bittersweet,” said Beth Valentine, the director of the state’s Fund to Address PFAS Contamination. “I’m glad we’ve closed on our first property so other landowners can see that this is a potential option if they want to move off the land, but I also recognize it was very hard for this landowner.”

Trump administration agrees to renegotiate Maine Sea Grant funding

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 3, 2025

The Trump administration has agreed to renegotiate funding for Maine Sea Grant, one of the state’s key coastal resource programs, following conversations between U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The renegotiation would put funding back on the table so long as the work supported by the program “focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries,” Collins’ office said in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Saturday that it was rescinding the $4.5 million award that supports marine science research, workforce development and education across the state for four years. It’s unclear when the money would be restored and when projects could resume. Maine Sea Grant will need to reapply for funding.

Column: Land and sea life meet in salt marshes

TIMES RECORD • March 5, 2025

One of the signs of spring is the emergence of coastal salt marshes. While not verdant green, they do contain plenty of life — and support plenty more of it. Salt marshes may not be the most romantic aspect of the edge of the sea, as compared to sandy beaches or sparkling tide pools, but they do have a particular, gentle beauty. On a sunny, warm day, they look a lot like fields of hay swept by the wind. In fact, salt marshes are an incredible example of the crossover between land and sea. They live a bit in both worlds. ~ Susan Olcott, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association

How Trump's tariffs on Canada will ripple throughout New England

NH PUBLIC RADIO • March 5, 2025

Home heating oil. Lumber. Seafood. Airplane parts. Businesses and consumers across New England rely heavily on these and other Canadian imports, raising fears about the trickle down costs of President Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff, which went into effect Tuesday. In Maine, Canadian imports were valued at around $4.7 billion last year, with fuel oil, electricity, seafood and lumber the largest sectors. Canada is the region’s largest single trading partner, accounting for $27 billion in goods in 2024. At a time when high food prices continue to drive frustration for shoppers, a 25% tax on Canadian agricultural imports may mean even more sticker shock at grocery stores. Representatives of Maine’s lobster industry are raising the alarm about how the tariffs could impact its closely connected supply chain with Canada.

Mainers are howling about coyote hunting proposal

SUN JOURNAL • March 5, 2025

The Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife this week heard from fans and foes who debated a bill that would end a policy that sets no daytime limits on shooting coyotes and replace it with a new coyote hunting season from Oct. 1 to March 31. Susan McHugh of Auburn, a researcher who studies human-animal relations, called the bill “a long-overdue move toward supporting common-sense practices that have proven to work well in other states and countries.” But hunters statewide told the committee Monday to kill the proposal.

Justin Trudeau urges Canadians not to vacation in Maine

CBS 13 • March 5, 2025

In response to tariffs from President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on the United States. During a news conference on Tuesday, he said the country will also try to buy Canadian products whenever possible and urged citizens not to vacation in the U.S., including Old Orchard Beach, a popular tourist attraction in Maine.

Scarborough Land Trust conserves land along Nonesuch River

SENTRY/LEADER • March 5, 2025

The Scarborough Land Trust announced this week it has conserved 30 acres of land with 1,800 feet of frontage along the Nonesuch River. The majority of the property is located in Gorham but the river and adjacent lands act as a wildlife corridor in Scarborough, according to the land trust, and conservation of the parcel heightened wildlife protection.

Angus King and Chellie Pingree demand Trump restores Maine Sea Grant funds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 5, 2025

U.S. Sen. Angus King and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree are demanding the Trump administration immediately undo its “ill-advised decision” to abruptly end support for the Maine Sea Grant program. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dated March 5, King and Pingree defended Maine Sea Grant as an “invaluable resource” for supporting the state’s coastal economy. For every federal dollar invested, it generates $15 in economic activity, adding up to $23.5 million annually, they wrote. Maine Sea Grant, which started in 1971, supported more than 300 businesses and more than 560 jobs in 2023.

Bucksport takes step to attract biofuel plant to region

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 5, 2025

The town of Bucksport is taking steps to attract a new biofuel plant, starting with seeking a grant to assess how well it and the surrounding region could support such a facility. Biofuels are processed from organic materials, or biomass, such as wood byproducts from the paper or timber industry. Some biomass electricity operations have faltered in Maine. The industry got a $13 million bailout in 2016, but one plant owner ran them only intermittently and filed for bankruptcy in 2022. Two biomass electricity plants in Aroostook County shut down in 2018 and 2019, citing market conditions. But new plant proposals focusing on biofuels have come to other towns recently, including Lincoln, Limestone, Millinocket and East Millinocket.

Canadian tariffs would 'cripple' Maine lobster industry, state's top fisheries leader says

MAINE PUBLIC • March 5, 2025

Maine's outgoing commissioner of marine resources is warning about the dire impacts of newly imposed tariffs on Canadian imports. Maine sends about $200 million worth of lobster each year to Canada, where it's processed and sent back to the U.S. or to third markets. Marine Resources Commission Pat Keliher said the tariffs could trigger major cuts in what Maine lobstermen are paid for their catch that could "cripple" the state's iconic fishery.

Angus King, Susan Collins break on bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports

MAINE PUBLIC • March 4, 2025

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine have split on a bill that would bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and have direct implications in a standoff between Gov. Janet Mills and the Trump administration. If approved, it would effectively enshrine President Donald Trump's recent executive order banning transgender athletes from competing on women's sports teams. U.S. Sens Angus King acknowledged that some may be frustrated that transgender athletes can compete on women's sports teams, but he said that the bill would mean that the state could lose all federal funding if a single Maine school district decided not to comply with a federal mandate. "I find it odd that many of those supporting this legislation have exactly the opposite position when it comes to women’s reproductive choices — that that issue should be left to the states — while the question of transgender athletes requires a federal solution which overrides local control," King said.

US tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect

ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 4, 2025

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ North American allies. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days. The U.S. president’s moves raised fears of higher inflation and the prospect of a devastating trade war even as he promised the American public that taxes on imports are the easiest path to national prosperity.

Opinion: Sen. Collins should help protect, maintain IRA funding

SUN JOURNAL • March 4, 2025

Maine is already a leader in clean energy, with renewables like hydropower, wind, solar and biomass accounting for two-thirds of all electricity generated in our state in 2023. Federal funding, rebates and tax credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act are helping us build on that progress. Maintaining IRA funding and investments is critical if Maine is going to continue building out our clean energy economy and workforce. Sen. Susan Collins should help protect IRA investments and tax credits so Maine can keep building on our strong track record of energy and environmental leadership. ~ Bryan Morgan, Hebron

Letter: A senseless solar project in South Portland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 4, 2025

South Portland strikes again. More open space and tree canopy destruction driven by continuing ignorance about climate change and what really needs to happen to save the planet. The Portland Catholic Diocese is leasing part of Calvary Cemetery to Massachusetts-based New Leaf Energy, which plans to clear cut mature trees to install a solar array. “Let’s cut down the trees we depend on to reduce climate change so we can build a solar array that destroys habitat, tree coverage and increases climate damage.” Duh. It’s way past time to do the right thing and shut these senseless projects down in the beginning. ~ Barbara Dee, South Portland

Letter: Stop harvesting small lobsters

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 4, 2025

We need to back off harvesting small lobsters. If most of the catch is presently 1 1/2 pounds, then lobstermen are catching most of the lobsters before they reach their spawning size, which is 3 1/2 inches and weighing 1 1/2 pounds. Maybe lobstermen could be allotted a bunch more traps for this one- or two-year waiting period to make up for their loss, while giving the 1 1/4 pound lobsters a chance to grow to spawning age. That extra 1/4 inch and an extra 1/4 pound would be accomplished after shedding one more time. It really may make a lot of sense to make the full adjustment to 3 1/2 inches all in one year. The 3 1/4 inches will be 3 1/2 inches after the next shed. It makes no sense to increase the size by less than 1/4 inch. ~ James O’Connell, Bar Harbor