The Maine Coastal Program works at the intersection of preserving access to working waterfronts for water dependent users with habitat preservation, development, and other land use needs. Much of this work is focused on preserving access for commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture as heritage industries that are economically important to many Maine coastal communities.
Working Waterfront Advisory Council
The Working Waterfront Advisory Council was established by the Legislature in June 2025 (Title 5, §3208) to address issues facing the state’s working waterfronts. The Council is housed within the Maine Office of Community Affairs and staffed by Maine Coastal Program. A primary goal of this Council is to identify and seek solutions to challenges facing working waterfronts in Maine and to submit annual recommendations to the Legislature on potential policy changes and support for addressing those identified challenges. All Council meeting information, materials, and reports are available to the public on the Council web page.
Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund
The Maine Public Working Waterfront Infrastructure Fund is a collaboration between the Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Office of Community Affairs/Maine Coastal Program, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The purpose of this fund is to adapt existing public working waterfront infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change, sea level rise, coastal flooding, and other impacts. Eligible properties include publicly owned working waterfronts that provide access to or support the conduct of commercial fishing, aquaculture, or other marine activities. This is a federally funded program, supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the funding is a one-time occurrence with awarded projects executed between Fall 2026 and Fall 2029.
Working Waterfront Protection
The Working Waterfront Access Protection Program is a collaboration between the Land for Maine’s Future Program and Maine Department of Marine Resources, with staff support from Maine Coastal Program. It provides funds to help fishing and aquaculture businesses, co-ops, municipalities, and other groups protect working waterfront properties for continued commercial fishing and aquaculture use. Applicants must first apply for the program by submitting a Letter of Intent to the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), followed by a full application if approved. Successful applications are brought by DMR to the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Board for funding consideration. Information about the Working Waterfront Access Protection Program can be found on the LMF website. The program is funding dependent but typically accepts Letters of Intent every other year. The most recent round opened in February 2026 with funding decisions in fall 2026.
Access for Commercial Shellfish Harvesting
Resources for Preserving Commercial Fishing Access (PDF) was produced by Maine Coastal Program in response to discussions by members of the Maine Shellfish Advisory Council in January 2022. The guide outlines the issues facing coastal access identified by council members and provides potential solutions, funding sources, and partners to protect and preserve working waterfront access.
Other Working Waterfront Resources
Accessing the Maine Coast
Hosted by the University of Maine and developed with partners including Maine Coastal Program, the Accessing the Maine Coast website provides information to help waterfront users, coastal communities, businesses, landowners, and others address issues related to coastal access and working waterfronts in Maine. The website offers tools, resources and information to help facilitate cooperative approaches to the ever-growing complexity of working waterfront and coastal access topics in Maine.
Penobscot Bay Working Waterfront Vulnerability Assessment and Resilience Planning Project
In 2016, Maine Coastal Program and several collaborators received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a vulnerability assessment and resilience planning project at ten working waterfront sites surrounding Penobscot Bay. For this study, project partners assessed the resilience of these sites against current and future storm surge, flooding, and sea level rise impacts, while helping the towns understand the range of adaptation options and associated costs for short-, medium-, and long-term improvements. This approach was designed to be relevant and transferrable to other working waterfront facilities along the Maine coast and beyond.
Project Overview
Penobscot Bay Vulnerability Overview (PDF)
Summary Report
Penobscot Bay Vulnerability Assessment and Resilience Planning Draft Summary Report (PDF, 7.88 MB)