Opinion: Blue Economy Center is key to Maine’s ocean future

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 20, 2026

This spring, following two years of careful consideration, the Legislature enacted a law establishing a Maine Blue Economy Center. Its work will encompass well-established industries like seafood, shipping and recreation and tourism and support advancements in emerging fields such as marine biotechnology and electrification. Its work will encompass obvious and well-established industries like seafood, shipping and recreation and tourism and support advancements in emerging fields such as marine biotechnology and electrification. We must be proactive about developing new products, markets and skills to enhance the future of our legacy industries like fishing, aquaculture and boatbuilding. ~ Michael Conathan helped lead the work of Maine’s Blue Economy Task Force, South Portland