New Manomet Report and Guidebook on Intertidal Access

Shellfish harvesters in Casco Bay and beyond have faced an increasing loss of access to intertidal mudflats. This trend is driven largely by changing coastal property ownership and gentrification, and is part of a broader trend of dwindling working waterfront access. To understand the current state of access, Manomet partnered with six towns in Casco Bay to collaboratively inventory their intertidal access points. We found that across these towns, 65% of all identified access points were across private property, and the majority of these were informal agreements with landowners, underscoring the precarious nature of access to the coast. Manomet wrote a report describe these findings, and a guidebook for other municipalities interested in undertaking similar work.

New Guidance Document on Residency Requirements

The commercial shellfish fishery in Maine is one of a few co-managed fisheries in the U.S. where licensing is tied to residency in a coastal municipality. Limited licenses are available to non-residents, although these are often in such high demand that towns have waitlists and hold lotteries to allocate licenses. The significant price increase in the housing market over the last few years, in addition to rising taxes and limited workforce housing, has created challenges for many Maine residents. However, for clammers living in coastal municipalities, moving out of their hometown may affect their ability to maintain their livelihood and make decisions about a resource they have in-depth local knowledge about.

Several municipalities in the Casco Bay region have discussed this issue within town committees, town councils, and select boards, and explored different options. This guidance document provides information to support other towns in Maine as they explore solutions to address how residency requirements and the housing market are affecting local harvesters and access to intertidal shellfish fisheries.

Working Waterfront Inventory Template

Working waterfronts, including intertidal mudflats, are critical to Maine’s economy, culture, and maritime history. Despite the regional and state-wide importance of working waterfronts, much of this crucial infrastructure is managed at a municipal level. Changes along Maine’s coast have increased pressure on the working waterfront at a faster pace than many towns can keep up with, adapt to, and plan for. To address this, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) and Tidal Bay Consulting developed a Working Waterfront Inventory Template. 

This is a tool for towns to collect data on working waterfront locations, infrastructure, the local economic impact of fisheries and aquaculture, and other important social and economic indicators. Completing this inventory and monitoring change over time will aid in towns' efforts to support municipal planning and prioritize policies and funding for projects that preserve a resilient working waterfront. The inventory can be developed as a stand-alone document or can be incorporated into a harbor management plan or comprehensive plan.

Community Intertidal Data Portal

The Data Portal was developed in collaboration with Tidal Bay Consulting, the Greater Portland Council of Governments, Viewshed (formerly Spatial Alternatives), and an Advisory Committee. After years of scoping and beta testing, the project team launched the Data Portal in May of 2022. The GIS-based data products are designed to make intertidal data and information free and accessible, foster connections between communities with an interest in the intertidal, and promote a more nuanced understanding of issues within the nearshore environment of Casco Bay.

Municipal shellfish committees will have more data available to make informed decisions on the conservation and management of their wild shellfish resources and improving water quality. In addition, municipal planners and other committees with authority in the intertidal zone will be able to utilize the data portal for climate adaptation and resiliency initiatives. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a training at your upcoming municipal committee meeting, please contact us.