Letter: Maine’s symbols deserve greater respect

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 6, 2025

The Press Herald is continuing its tradition of treating discussions about Maine state symbols with irreverence and dismissiveness. It’s nothing new. The discussion of state symbols has always been derided. On March 24, 1927, at a time when the Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs was pushing the Legislature to adopt the black-capped chickadee as our state bird, the Press Herald published an article about the pushback, “Women Resent Idea Chickadee Bill is a Joke.” The bill passed anyway. Can anyone name any other legislation that passed in 1927? It takes just a few moments of the Legislature’s precious time to vote in favor of a state symbol and the impact lasts much, much longer. We should be proud of our state symbols, and also proud to take the time to decide them. ~ Nick Lund, Cumberland

Salmon Farms Under Fire on U.S. East Coast After Being Shuttered on West Coast

GOOOD MEN PROJECT • February 5, 2025

This month Washington became the last state on the U.S. West Coast to reject salmon aquaculture over environmental concerns. A new lawsuit now takes aim at operations on the country’s East Coast — the only commercial netpen salmon farms left in the country. On Jan. 14, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) filed a lawsuit against Cooke Aquaculture, the owner of more than a dozen salmon farms in the northeastern state of Maine, under the U.S. Clean Water Act. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of illegal discharges from the farms that create “toxic” marine conditions. CLF seeks to force Cooke to hire more staff for monitoring and inspection of the marine environment. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, another trade association, defended Cooke and criticized CLF, implying that the nonprofit was made up of “ambulance-chasing lawyers.”

USAID is going away, and along with it cocaine-fighting efforts and Amazon rainforest protection

ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 5, 2025

The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development will deliver a major blow to efforts including conservation efforts in the Brazilian Amazon. Even if some foreign aid resumes after the 90-day suspension ordered by President Donald Trump, many USAID-backed projects focus on areas he has derided as ideological: climate change, biodiversity and minority and women’s rights, so several recipients fear their projects are now dead. Now everything is at risk, Edinho Macuxi, the leader of the Indigenous Council, said. In recent weeks, his organization, which represents some 60,000 people, laid off workers and canceled activities due to lack of funds.

The Future of Sears Island: A Conservation Conversation, Feb. 25

PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • February 5, 2025

The Campaign to Protect Sears Island/wahsumkik and Upstream Watch are cohosting a short presentation followed by a community conversation about the status of the wind port and the conservation effort. Presenters include campaign volunteers David Italiaander and Chris Buchanan, and Jill Howell, executive director of Upstream Watch. Att Mermaid Plaza, Searsport, Feb 26, 7 pm.

2025 Climate Series begins with 'From Global to Local: Planning and Action for Climate Change'

PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • February 5, 2025

The Rockport Conservation Commission hosts a presentation entitled, "From Global to Local: Planning and Action for Climate Change.” Panel: Amalia (Molly) Siegel, Maine Climate Council Coordinator; Jeff Runge, Professor Emeritus of Oceanography, UMaine; Jenny Carter, Rockland sustainability and community development coordinator. At Rockport Public Library, Feb 19, 6 pm, free.

Landowner Motivation Tied to Land Use, Study Finds

MIRAGE.NEWS • February 5, 2025

Many U.S. forests are privately owned, particularly in the Eastern and North Central part of the country. This makes control of invasive plants and pests challenging because efforts must be coordinated across landowners. A new study of Maine and New Hampshire family forest landowners explores how differences in ownership motivation affects willingness to control, and how economic incentives can be implemented most efficiently. Study author Shadi Atallah, an associate professor in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, found that in most scenarios, the recreationist would not control an invasive shrub without cost-share payment, while the timber owner would choose to control regardless of subsidies. "My conclusion is that we should provide the subsidy to the weakest link, which in this case is the recreationist.”

Letter: We all can do our part for the environment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 5, 2025

I am a boomer and boomers sometimes get a bad rap for not caring about the environment because we won’t be around to suffer the consequences of environmental mismanagement. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our hearts are breaking when we hear “Drill baby drill” and other anti-environment venom. The government is obviously not going to solve our problems, so we need to take responsibility, right here and right now. If we exploit our limited resources, our children and grandchildren will no longer have those resources. However, if we make a concerted effort to conserve, natural resources will continue to be available. ~ Regi Robnett, Portland

Letter: Don’t sell Maine shrimp out of state

CENTRAL MAINE • February 5, 2025

I was pleased to see that Maine has decided to do a test on Maine shrimp by allowing seven fishermen to go shrimping starting in February. The shrimp caught should only be sold to Mainers. I don’t think they should be sold out of state at all! It has been many years since we have had a taste of those sweet treats from the sea! ~ Louise Marcoux Bowker, Waterville

Court restores protections for endangered whale species to prevent entanglement in fishing gear

SPECTRUM NEWS • February 4, 2025

Commercial fishermen who hoped for a loosening of fishing regulations during President Donald Trump's administration faced a setback when a federal appeals court reinstated rules meant to protect a dwindling whale species from getting entangled in fishing gear.The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's decision on Thursday and reinstated the protections. The lower court had ruled against a federal law banning lobster fishing in a 200-nautical-mile area off the New England coast from Feb. 1 to April 30 annually. Lethal entanglement in lobster fishing gear is one of the biggest threats to the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers less than 380 and is in decline. The other major threat is collisions with large ships.

Maine State Park Named Among 7 Best in the Nation

WCYY • February 4, 2025

According to Business Insider, Maine is home to one of 7 best state parks in the entire nation. While all the tourists flood Acadia National Park, time for a detour to the beauty of one of the best state parks you'll find anywhere. Known as being the home to the easternmost point in the contiguous U.S., Quoddy Head State Park already has some built-in popularity thanks to being the first place you can watch the sunrise each day.

America’s Wildlands Under Siege: Trump Ditches Plan to Protect 30% by 2030

MSN • February 4, 2025

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that effectively rescinded the previous administration's commitment to the "30 by 30" conservation goal. This executive order has halted the initiative that sought to preserve a significant portion of the nation's lands and waters. The decision has sparked widespread concern among environmentalists who view it as a setback for conservation efforts. The "30 by 30" initiative was not just a domestic goal but also part of a larger, global movement to protect biodiversity.

Maine officials wary of how trade war would affect lobster industry

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 4, 2025

A possible trade war between the U.S. and Canada would have a big impact on Maine’s lobster industry. Unlike more specific tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed on Canadian goods during his  first term in office, the new 25 percent tariffs that he initially announced for cross-border trade — combined with Canada’s retaliatory 25 percent tariff on imported goods from the U.S. — would have directly affected the flow of lobster. Adding to the uncertainty is that late Monday afternoon, Trump announced he was delaying the tariffs on the northern neighbor for 30 days. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.

Maine braces for increased energy prices from Trump tariffs, despite 30-day postponement

MAINE PUBLIC • February 4, 2025

President Trump’s looming tariffs on Canadian energy resources could hit Maine homes and businesses but officials say the impacts are still uncertain. Maine relies heavily on Canada for refined petroleum products including heating oil, used in over half of homes in the state. It could also affect electricity prices, particularly for some 58,000 customers in Eastern Maine who rely on the New Brunswick power grid. Tariffs on Canada were set to go into effect on Tuesday before the president delayed them.

Maine’s problems with Lion Electric buses began immediately

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • February 3, 2025

Of the nine Maine school districts who received buses from Lion Electric Co. paid for by federal grants, plus Vinalhaven, which bought a bus itself, six almost immediately began reporting problems to state officials, dating back to January 2023. Two years later, the buses largely remain sidelined after having barely been on the road at all, frustrating school officials who had depended on them to safely transport students.

Opinion: It’s time for Mainers to speak up on clean energy

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 4, 2025

Our climate system is becoming both more erratic and more extreme, and we must do more to stop the emissions of fossil fuels that are causing these disasters. The only way that we can do that, while creating good-paying union jobs and stabilizing electricity prices, is to stay the course on offshore wind. So no matter whether your concern is affordable electric bills, a reliable grid, protecting communities from future disasters, or perhaps just being able to get out and enjoy winter, it is a time to remember to speak up. ~ Lucy Hochschartner, Maine Conservation Voters

PFAS-free outerwear has arrived in Maine. Be prepared to pay.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 4, 2025

The forever chemicals that bead up water on a hiker’s slicker and other outerwear are getting increased scrutiny from lawmakers who pointed out such fabrics are getting a tax break over potentially safer alternatives. L.L. Bean and Patagonia are among the outdoor retailers that have replaced the products they sell that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have been linked to cancer, but at a cost. Substitute water-resistant chemicals, which include silicone and new organic materials but not rubber or plastic, are hit with a 27 percent tariff. Members of Maine’s congressional delegation are trying to change that.

Opinion: I was a federal whistleblower. I know what an assault on science and regulation looks like.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 4, 2025

More information is essential to act in the public interest. The Clean Water Act led to a dramatic turnaround in water quality and ecosystem health, with a direct impact on the health of Americans. The willingness of politicians to reach bipartisan compromise to study the problem and regulate the offending industries was driven by a sense of fairness and accountability. Now that we face widespread toxic contamination again we should remember how science and regulation led to a more livable Maine. What we should not do is shoot the messenger. How we manage to uphold these values despite the best efforts of billionaires and mega-corporations will define Maine’s environmental and public health future. ~ Joel Clement, 10th generation Mainer and award-winning former federal whistleblower with a background in climate change, science, and the environment

Maine’s industry braces for impact from new tariffs

NATIONAL FISHERMAN • February 3, 2025

President Trump’s recent decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 percent on Chinese goods will affect many industries. For the U.S. seafood industry, mainly focusing on lobstering, the new trade policies have sparked serious concerns about supply chain disruptions and economic consequences. Trump announced the tariffs on Saturday, February 1, and said they would go into effect on Tuesday, February 4. Industry leaders fear increased costs due to tariffs will create instability for American harvesters and Canadian partners. Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, told Spectrum Local News, “These tariffs, if they actually happen, will badly impact Maine harvesters and the Maine lobster sector just as it will impact Canadians.”

Auburn, Lewiston advocating for more recreation as part of Great Falls dam relicensing

SUN JOURNAL • February 3, 2025

City officials on both sides of the Androscoggin River are working with environmental organizations to negotiate better river access and recreational amenities as the owner of the Lewiston Falls Hydroelectric Project looks to relicense the dams. Eric Cousens, executive director of public services in Auburn, said that since the hydropower facility is relicensed once every 30-50 years, this is the cities’ “one shot to advocate for fair and balanced use of the public river.” The cities and its partners in agencies such as the National Park Service are still far apart in negotiations with Brookfield on some requests, including timed releases, a portage trail, emergency and recreation access below the falls, and recreational flow info that can be made available in real time to the public for trip planning.

Maine and Canada's highly integrated lobster industries may face impacts under potential tariffs

MAINE PUBLIC • February 3, 2025

Trade experts say American consumers should expect higher prices for lobster, under a proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods. The Maine and Canadian lobster industries are highly integrated, said Kristin Vekasi, a political science professor with the University of Maine. Some lobster that is caught here in Maine is shipped to Canada, where it's processed and sold to third markets, or back to the United States. Vekasi said if Canada eventually imposes retaliatory tariffs on American lobster, there's a possibility that the same product will be taxed twice.