MAINE COAST NEWS
For Immediate Release 3/8/02
Contact: Penobscot Bay Watch 594-5717 coastwatch @acadia.net
Marine trades, building industries in Knox, Waldo and Hancock county say fishpens harm business.
AUGUSTA. Twelve leaders of the powerful home construction and boatbuilding industries in coastal Hancock, Waldo and Knox Counties have written a joint letter to Governor Angus King, voicing concerns that the salmon farming industry is harming their businesses. The companies collectively employ 1,120 mostly full time employees around Muscongus Bay, Penobscot Bay and Blue Hill Bay.
The two industry sectors join Maine's commercial fishing industry in calling on the state to pay more attention to the impacts that expanding aquaculture is having on Maine's traditional coastal economy.
The letter stated February 25th, was written by Bob Vaughan of Seal Cove Boatyard and signed by twelve prominent boat builders, boat yards, building supply and marine supply firms from Thomaston to Mount Desert.
The industry letter informs Governor King that "Our businesses depend on recreational users for client base. A large component of recreational value is simple appearance." they wrote; "The pleasure of looking at nature’s unspoiled beauty. We believe that proliferation of finfish aquaculture as exemplified by the salmon industry will diminish the character and quality of the coastal waters for recreational purposes."
Noting that Mid-Coast Maine is "recognized world wide as a recreational jewel." the business leaders wrote, "This area is ranked with the great locations of the world for the deftness of Nature’s hand and for our respect and preservation of her work. The strength of our economy reflects both facts. If the coast becomes more industrial in appearance, fewer will come"
The companies compared the jobs and income created by their industry with those of the aquculture industry. According to information given them by Senator Olympia Snowe, the aquaculture industry employs 950 to 1100 direct jobs statewide and grossed about 60 million dollars last year.
By contrast, they noted, the marine trades industry alone provides 2500-3000 direct jobs statewide, grossing about $612 million, or more than three times the jobs and ten times the income generated by aquaculture in Maine.
"We have all built thriving businesses by knowing our market and our customers." the companies wrote. "They come because of the quality of our work and also because of the special quality of our location. Loss of quality in either category means loss of business."
"We are not anti-aquaculture". the companies told the governor. "We recognize that Maine’s resources must be managed for the benefit of all." However, they wrote, " We do expect an evenhanded balancing of economic benefit in the promotion of one industry at the potential expense of another." vThe companies that signed the letter include Ellsworth Builders Supply, Wayfarer Marine, Brooklin Boatyard, Woodenboat Magazine, Hinckley Yacht Co., Seal Cove Boatyard, Inc. Benjamin River Marine, Rockport Marine, Michael Hewes & Co., John M. Williams Co., Lee S. Wilbur & Co., and Lyman Morse Boatbuilding Co.
The following is the text of the letter sent to Governor King and submitted to the Maine Legislature's Marine Resources Committee by the twelve marine trades and homebuilding companies. ===========================================================================
SEAL COVE BOATYARD, Inc.
124 HORSESHOE COVE ROAD / HARBORSIDE, MAINE 04642
TELEPHONE: 207-326-4422 I FAX: 207-326-4411
EMAIL: SEALCOVE@ACADIA.NET
February 25, 2002
Governor Angus King
1 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Dear Governor King:
We, the undersigned, are associated with the recreational boating industry and the home construction industry in coastal Hancock, Waldo and Knox Counties. Our businesses depend on recreational users for client base. A large component of recreational value is simple appearance; the pleasure of looking at nature’s unspoiled beauty. We believe that proliferation of finfish aquaculture as exemplified by the salmon industry will diminish the character and quality of the coastal waters for recreational purposes.
Mid-Coast Maine is recognized world wide as a recreational jewel. This area is ranked with the great locations of the world for the deftness of Nature’s hand and for our respect and preservation of her work. The strength of our economy reflects both facts. If the coast becomes more industrial in appearance, fewer will come. We recognize that there may be sound environmental issues with large scale aquaculture, but that is not our expertise. We have all built thriving businesses by knowing our market and our customers. They come because of the quality of our work and also because of the special quality of our location. Loss of quality in either category means loss of business.
The Marine Trades alone comprise 1495 direct and 1291 indirect jobs in this area (Hancock-Washington and Waldo-Knox Counties; source-- Muskie School of Public Service). That total of almost 2800 jobs is surpassed by the home building industry. The Aquaculture Industry as a whole commonly claims approximately 950 to 1100 direct jobs state wide (source- Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office), many of them part time. Regional figures are not quoted. Reliable figures are unavailable. The Marine Trades provide 2500-3000 direct jobs state wide, almost all of them full time. Salmon Aquaculture grossed about $60,000,000 in 2000. Marine Trades grossed $612,000,000.
We are not anti-aquaculture. We recognize that Maine’s resources must be managed for the benefit of all. We do expect an evenhanded balancing of economic benefit in the promotion of one industry at the potential expense of another. Regional factors are important and accurate data of paramount importance.
If you wish to obtain further information, please contact Bob Vaughan of Seal Cove Boatyard, Inc ., 124 Horseshoe Cove Road., Harborside, ME 04642, at 207 326 4422, sealcove@acadia.net
Bob Vaughan
Seal Cove Boatyard, Inc.
Harborside, ME 04642
Employees: 18
Austin Goodyear
Ellsworth Builders Supply
,br>Ellsworth, ME 04065
Employees: 240
Steve White
Brooklin Boatyard, Inc.
Brooklin,ME 04616
Employees: 48
John Dunbar
Benjamin River Marine
Brooldin, ME 04616
Employees: 6
Jon Wilson
Woodenboat Magazine
Brooklin, ME 04616
Employees: 46
Taylor Allen
Rockport Marine
Rockport, ME 04856
Employees: 50
Mike Hewes
Michael Hewes & Co.
Blue Hill, ME 04614
Employees: 34
Jock Williams
John M. Williams Co.
Mt. Desert, ME 04660
Employees: 25
Parker Laite
Wayfarer Marine
Camden, ME 04843
Employees: 100
Paul Fredericks
Hinckley Yacht Co.
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Employees: 450
John Kachmar
Lee S. Wilbur & Co.
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Employees: 19
JB Turner
Lyman Morse Boatbuilding Co.
Thomaston, ME 04861
Employees: 84
----end of letter----
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