PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 21, 2026
At a recent Maine Blue Week in Portland revolved around one idea: an “ocean cluster” informed by the experiences of others in Massachusetts, Alaska and elsewhere. Borrowing a model is harder than it looks. So what might Maine do instead? Treat its blue economy strategy the way a Bigelow scientist or a startup founder treats a promising hypothesis. Run small experiments. Measure the results. Take the data seriously (even when it’s unwelcome), and adjust. Hard-won local knowledge will likely serve the state better than imitating somewhere else’s pathway. ~ John Surdyk, Waterville