Critics had worried the controversial project would have closed important lobstering grounds, blocked off a critical "safe harbor" storm refuge for the city's tall ships, and would have destroyed the quiet of the neighborhood and the city's popular Marie Reed Park, at the base of the mile long Rockland Breakwater.

Background on the Samoset yacht marina vs lobstermen issue: HERE

That granite breakwater is one of the few in the United States with a full sized working lighthouse at its end. The granite construction also provides ideal habitat for lobsters and a variety of other marine life. More than a million and a half dollars worth of lobsters are harvested from Rockland harbor annually, according to figures given the city council by Sherman Hoyt, fisheries specialist for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Most of those lobsters are caught in the waters near the breakwater.

In particular, council members tonight cited the intensity and breadth concerns over probable impacts to the city's thriving lobster industry and to the historic windjammer fleet and use of the popular city park .

Council members Raye and Gamage, voting in the minority, claimed that thse impacts would not be significant; while Mayor Maines and Councilors Harden and Steinberger voted to reject the marina project .

As proposed, the marina would have filled the waters directly in front of the Mary Reade Park with powered and illuminated boat slips.

The victorious marina opponents will be requesting the state and federal agencies to terminate their consideration of state and federal permits for the yacht marina project. Such termination of permit reviews is generally customary when a deverlopment proposal is rejected by the municipality it would have been located in.

Background on the Samoset yacht marina issue: http://www.penbay.org/marina1.html
Rockland Harbor Lobsterman Art Johnson: 594-4677