The Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) today announced the formation of the new Working Waterfront Advisory Council to identify and seek solutions to challenges faced by Maine’s working waterfronts. Established through legislation in June 2025, the Council consists of 15 members appointed by MOCA who will submit annual recommendations to the Legislature.
“With this remarkable group of Working Waterfront representatives and experts, we will find solutions to keep Maine’s marine industry and culture strong,” said MOCA Director Samantha Horn. “Their range of expertise and the variety of regions they represent highlight the interdependence of community, industry, and government in creating a vibrant future for Maine.”
"I have heard time and again in my conversations with nonprofits, communities, fishermen and aquaculturists of the need for the state to center working waterfronts as a long-term priority,” said Rep. Morgan Rielly (D-Westbrook). “This led me to develop legislation to create the Working Waterfront Advisory Council, which will provide annual reports with updates and recommendations to the Legislature and work with the Administration to advance initiative that support working waterfronts. This will allow for consistency in crafting policy and will help center our working waterfronts as a strategic priority for the Legislature, instead of acting only when crisis strikes.”
“I am pleased to serve as a liaison for both the Working Waterfront Coalition and the state’s Working Waterfront Advisory Council,” said Stacey Keefer, Executive Director of the Maine Marine Trades Association “Despite Maine’s extensive coastline, its working waterfront infrastructure and businesses face significant challenges that threaten their long-term viability. Fortunately, a broad coalition of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors are collaborating to ensure the protection of this vital sector.”
The creation of the Advisory Council follows investments by the Mills Administration to increase resilience and protection of working waterfronts across the state, including $21.2 million in grants for 68 working waterfronts damaged by winter storms and a $69 million federal grant to protect Maine’s communities, environment, and working waterfronts from extreme storms, flooding, and rising sea levels.
The Council is staffed by the Maine Coastal Program within MOCA. Based on recommendations from key partner groups, the Council will initially focus on issues related to flood insurance and financing, land use planning, and permitting. The Council will collaborate closely with the organizations, agencies, and individuals conducting work in these areas and supporting critical working waterfront efforts.
The Council consists of 15 members appointed by MOCA who represent a diversity of geographies and working waterfront sectors across the state. Membership will rotate every three years with initial staggered terms of one, two, and three years in length.
The Council members include:
One-year term
- Bob Carey, Superintendent of the Maine Bureau of Insurance
- Shey Conover, Owner of Islesboro Marine Enterprises
- Mitch Lench, Founder & CEO of Ocean’s Balance
- Hugh Cowperthwaite, Senior Program Director of Fisheries & Aquaculture at Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
- Boe Marsh, Owner & CEO of Community Shellfish
Two-year term
- Bob Wood, Director of Planning & Resilience for the Passamaquoddy Tribal Government
- Chad Strater, Founder & Co-Owner of Sea Meadow Marine Foundation
- Rhiannon Hampson, Vice President for Economic Development at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute
- Casey O’Hara, Co-Owner of O’Hara Corporation
- Dan Bookham, Senior Vice President for Business Development and Commercial Lines at Allen Insurance & Financial
Three-year term
- Stacey Keefer, Executive Director for the Maine Marine Trades Association and Working Waterfront Coalition liaison
- Tora Johnson, Co-Director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative at Sunrise County Economic Council
- Linda Nelson, Economic & Community Development Director for the Town of Stonington
- Rachel Bizarro, Town Administrator for the Town of Bristol
- Heather Moretti, Waterfront Coordinator for the City of Portland
The first Working Waterfront Advisory Council meeting will be a hybrid meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1-3 p.m. More information about the Council, including meeting registration and materials, is available on the Working Waterfront Advisory Council webpage.