Puffins Return to Maine

WOKQ • March 19, 2025

The Atlantic Puffin is a gorgeous animal. Atlantic Puffins breed from May to August. After their short breeding period on the rocky coast of Maine, they return to the open ocean for the majority of the year. So these beautiful birds are rarely seen, even though they are "native to" (breed in) Maine. The most common place to see the Atlantic Puffin is on Eastern Egg Rock - off the coast of Maine - a little over an hour north of Portland. The best way to see these beautiful creatures nest is to take a tour out of Boothbay Harbor. Many people suggest Cap’n Fish’s Audubon Puffin Cruise. There are other tours that depart from Steuben, Maine near Acadia National Park, and also Cutler, Maine near the Canadian border.

Patagonia sues Marden’s, alleging that Maine retailer knowingly sold counterfeit gear

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2025

Patagonia, the outdoor gear company famous for its mountain-range logo, is suing Marden’s Surplus and Salvage for trademark violations, alleging the bargain retailer knowingly sold counterfeit products at locations across Maine — a claim that Marden’s denies. The California-based company further charges that Marden’s directs the manufacturing, distribution and import of the fake products. “We don’t do business like that,” Marden’s general manager Fox Keim said. “We were completely caught off-guard by this.”

Maine's shifting songbirds reflect a warming climate

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2025

And as climate change accelerated by fossil fuel pollution shortens Maine’s winters, Doug Hitchcox, a staff naturalist with Maine Audubon says songbirds are arriving earlier and staying later. Across the country, common bird species are moving along with the climate changes. Between 1966 and 2013, hundreds of widespread species moved the center of their winter range 40 miles north. While some birds appear to be thriving, John Garrett from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and others are sounding alarms about the threats made worse by climate change, such as habitat loss, food scarcity and pollution. "We've lost 3 billion birds since 1970," Garrett said. "How have we lost this many birds? And why? Climate is definitely a big part of it."

Panel recommends rejecting Sears Island conservation bill

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2025

Lawmakers on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee have voted 10-2 against supporting a measure to conserve Sears Island entirely. The bill, from Rep. Reagan Paul, R-Winterport, would extend a conservation easement that covers three quarters of the state-owned island onto the remaining parcel, set aside for commercial development under a 2009 agreement. But a majority of lawmakers said the bill would eliminate any future possibility for the state to build a port or other industrial facility on the island in Searsport. Plans to develop a port at Sears Island have been proposed for decades, prompting fierce contest to preserve the land. Many advocates told legislators during a public hearing that they were in favor of renewable energy but preferred the state focus on building a port at the nearby Mack Point terminal.

Mainers Speak Out Against Chaotic Federal Funding and Firing Decisions

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • March 19, 2025

One by one, a diverse group of Mainers including a fired federal worker, business and fishing groups, a veteran, and a SNAP participant spoke about the real-world harm that has been inflicted by the chaotic decision-making of the Trump Administration.

Meeting to Discuss Bay of Fundy Aquatic Connectivity Project

AG CLIPS • March 19, 2025

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, the State of Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Lead Partner the Passamaquoddy Tribe are holding a second public meeting to discuss the proposed watershed plan and environmental assessment for the “Bay of Fundy Aquatic Connectivity” project in Washington County, Maine.  This meeting will be April 17, 2025, at the Cobscook Institute in Township of Trescott, Maine, at 6 p.m. Under the project deteriorating fishways and undersized culverts that block fish such as sea-run smelts and sea-run alewives from historic spawning and nursery habitat will be replaced on roads in selected municipalities in Washington County. Water quality and forest health improvement will be created through restoration of habitat access, adjoining riparian areas and stream bank corridors.

Piping plovers arrive early in Scarborough

SCARBOROUGH LEADER • March 19, 2025

The first piping plover of the season was spotted on Higgins Beach in Scarborough last week and the endangered bird species, which can typically be found on Maine’s beaches from April through August, are trending toward an early-to-mid-March arrival date in Scarborough. The 54 chicks that fledged last year in Scarborough represent roughly 22% of the 237 chicks that fledged across the entire state, according to data provided by the Maine Audubon.

If tourists boycott Maine, let’s Make Summer Great Again — for us

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2025

Why, if we see a dip in tourism, I propose that we take the opportunity to Make Summer Great Again — for us. I’m talking about staycationing to the fullest — doing all those things we say “we can do anytime we want” but don’t. The things we can’t bring ourselves to spend the money on because they’re in our backyard. It’s hard to say right now how tourists will feel come summer, considering the pace at which decisions are being made and reversed. When it becomes clear how much of a dent politically motivated travel decisions will actually make, we’ll be here. And if the hospitality folks meet us halfway — maybe extend those Maine resident discounts beyond the least desirable months — I’ll happily step up.

Fishermen want to go green but say DOGE cuts prevent that

ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 19, 2025

Commercial fishermen and seafood processors and distributors looking to switch to new, lower-carbon emission systems say the federal funding they relied on for this work is either frozen or unavailable due to significant budget cuts promoted by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. The changes are designed to replace outdated systems and are touted by environmentalists as a way to reduce seafood’s carbon footprint. Fishermen affected by the cuts described the situation as chaotic and confusing. Scallop distributors in Maine are among those who say their federal commitments have been rescinded or are under review. “The uncertainty. This is not a business-friendly environment,” said Togue Brawn, a Maine seafood distributor who said she is out tens of thousands of dollars. “If they want to make America great again, then honor your word.”

Belfast City Council approves limit on cruise ship traffic

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 18, 2025

The Belfast City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to limit the size of cruise ships that can allow passengers to disembark at city-owned facilities. The ordinance amendments would bar any vessel certified to carry 50 or more passengers from boarding or disembarking passengers. Bar Harbor recently rejected a proposal to expand passenger numbers and loosen regulations on cruise ship arrivals. The proposal revisited a previous ordinance that limited cruise ship passenger visitations to 1,000 daily.

Sen. King joins group of lawmakers calling on USDA to reinstate funding for local food

MAINE PUBLIC • March 18, 2025

Maine Senator Angus King joined 30 of his Senate colleagues to demand that the U.S. Department of Agriculture reverse the cancellation of two programs that supported local farms, food banks, and children. The programs provided $1.3 million to state, tribal, and territorial governments in Maine to purchase locally grown food and distribute it to food banks, schools, and child care centers. Anna Korsen, Policy and Program Director at Full Plates Full Potential, said, "This is certainly the first time that our 'school meals for all' policy has felt under threat and that is really scary."

Conservation groups pursue massive Western Maine land deal

MAINE PUBLIC • March 18, 2025

A quartet of environmental organizations plan to permanently conserve 78,000 acres in the Magalloway region of western Maine. Organizers have secured an option agreement from landowner Bayroot LLC to preserve the land. Under the plan, Bayroot, would keep more than 62,000 acres but an easement on the land would prohibit development. Yale University is a majority owner of the land company and the property is logged by Wagner Forest Management. Another 11,000 acres near the headwaters of the Magalloway River would be acquired by the Northeast Wilderness Trust to create a new wilderness preserve. Meanwhile the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust would own another 4,000 acres conserved for wildlife habitat and recreation including corridors along the Magalloway and Little Magalloway rivers. The groups, including The Nature Conservancy and Forest Society of Maine aim to raise $62 million for the land deal.

Kingfield board seeking public comment on Reed Brook conservation project

FRANKLIN JOURNAL • March 18, 2025

The Board of Selectmen decided Monday to get public feedback on conserving 1,065 acres along Reed Brook before deciding whether to support the proposal. Lynne Batt of the Trust for Public Land said the Trust has secured an option to purchase the parcel along Route 27 at market value with grant money. “We wouldn’t be asking the town for anything toward any part of the project,” she said. “We would be looking to convey the parcel to the town as a donation.” She noted the land had been historically used for timber harvesting and its long-term use would be decided by the town. “It could be timber management as well as recreational trails, so that would be up to the community to decide,” she said.

Eliminating EPA Office of Research and Development Would Harm Public Health and the Environment

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS • March 18, 2025

The potential elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development would take a huge toll on public health and be a massive giveaway to polluting industries, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). These destructive actions are reportedly part of the Trump administration’s mass layoff strategy. Chitra Kumar, managing director of the Climate and Energy Program at UCS, said, “It would be extremely difficult to set protective health standards without the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, and I think that’s exactly what this administration is aiming for. I am not sure how the EPA could fulfill its legal mandate of public health protection if this plan goes forward.

$62M deal connects 500K acres of Maine conservation land

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 18, 2025

A 78,000-acre tract of land will be in permanent conservation in the Magalloway River region of western Maine, if a deal agreed to by four Maine conservation groups and the logging company that owns most of the property makes it to fruition. The agreement is contingent on raising the $62 million needed to close the deal by May 2026. The parcel connects two properties already in conservation in Maine and New Hampshire, creating a 500,000-acre piece of contiguous conserved land. It includes Aziscohos Lake, the Magalloway River, about 30 brooks and streams and Rump Mountain. The Magalloway region is considered one of the last strongholds for wild native brook trout in the U.S. The landowner will continue to own and manage 62,500 acres for logging with no-cut buffers around lakes, ponds and streams. All current uses will be allowed on most of the land, including hunting, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, boating and viewing wildlife. 11,200 acres will be a wilderness preserve.

Auburn couple finds support in Jay to open nature-based learning center

FRANKLIN JOURNAL • March 18, 2025

After years of frustration dealing with Auburn city officials, Kathleen Reed and her husband, Tom, have found a fresh start in Jay, where they are launching the Sweet Tomatoes Learning Center. Auburn city officials had required permitting, including phosphorus control measures, and approvals related to the property’s location in the Lake Auburn watershed. Reed, who has decades of experience in education, said the Sweet Tomatoes Learning Center is structured to support homeschoolers, nature-based learning, and students who don’t thrive in traditional classroom settings.

Opinion: Science and industry must shape future of Maine’s fisheries

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2025

No one has a bigger stake in sustaining healthy fisheries than Maine’s community-based fishermen. Challenges abound, but there is also hope when we focus on solutions. To adapt to the new reality, we need to recognize that we have a system that is in the process of breaking and adopt innovative approaches that draw on the expertise of both scientists and fishermen to address a growing problem. Reinvesting in collaborative research recognizes fishermen as ocean stewards. This is not just about rebuilding fish stocks. It’s about rebuilding hope and trust in our science and management. ~ Graham Sherwood, Gulf of Maine Research Institute; Ben Martens, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association

Column: This coyote bill flies in the face of good management practices

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 18, 2025

Another coyote protection bill, LD 716, is once again is in the legislative hopper. The coyote hunting season currently is year-round. The bill limits the coyote hunting season to between Oct. 1 and March 31. The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine had this to say about the bill: “These legislators want to protect coyotes for six months of the year so they can thrive. That means more fawns will die, more coyotes will kill deer in wintering areas, more cats and dogs will die and domestic animals will be on the menu.” ~ V. Paul Reynolds

How the local debate over solar has grown more heated in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 18, 2025

Community solar farms have multiplied across Maine since 2019, with support from the state government. They particularly flourished in 2024, when a record-breaking amount of solar capacity came online. The state’s solar capacity is projected to more than double in the next five years. At the same time, towns such as Trenton are frightened by larger projects and continue to resist them, in some cases with increasing hostility, putting in moratoriums and ordinances to limit developments. That resistance has more recently caused companies to give up trying to work in the state. The pushback could challenge Maine as it tries to reach a goal of using 100 percent renewable energy by 2040. Still, some towns have welcomed the solar arrays. Maine had the second-highest volume of community solar installations in the nation last year and broke its own record for installation.