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The Atlantic herring is one of the most important fishery resources in Maine, supplying the primary bait used in its iconic lobster industry. It is also an important forage species for seabirds, marine mammals and a variety of larger fish species, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Anglers seek trawler buffer zone as Atlantic herring stock declines

Recreational fishermen in New England say commercial trawlers are threatening the survival of smaller businesses relying on a healthy stock of Atlanti…

Local and federal resources for Mainers who have been affected by the damaging storms that hit Maine on December 18, 2023, and January 10, 2024, are available through the Maine Emergency Management Agency by calling 1-800-452-8735. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Climate change, development threaten Maine’s working waterfronts

Reintroduced federal legislation aims to preserve Maine's iconic, working waterfronts still recovering from recent powerful storms. Strong winds and …

A Spray underwater glider shortly after deployment in the Gulf Stream offshore of Miami, Fla., began one of the many glider-based surveys of the Gulf Stream completed by Associate Scientist Robert Todd's group at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution since 2015. (Robert Todd/WHOI)

Study confirms Gulf Stream warming, shifting toward Maine coast

The latest research finds the Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the global ocean over the past two decades, and has shifted toward the Atlantic …

As part of Maine's Offshore Wind Initiative, the state will develop a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array in the Gulf of Maine to foster research into floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine wildlife, fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

Labor advocates are hailing Maine Governor Janet Mill's signing of a landmark bill creating a new offshore wind energy industry in the state…

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Democratic lawmakers are asking federal investigators to study the true cost of so-called fast fashion and its contribution to climate change…

Today, 10% of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice, including glaciers, ice caps and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. These glacierized areas cover nearly 6 million square miles. (Adobe Stock)

UNE Researcher: Most Glaciers Gone by 2100

A study co-authored by a University of New England researcher finds the majority of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of the century…

Some 80% of lobster in the U.S. come from Maine's adjacent waters while the lobster industry is estimated to create over 35,000 jobs in addition to state licensed lobstermen, lobster dealers and processors, and seasonal restaurant workers. (Adobe Stock)

U of Maine Lobster Study Aims to Protect State’s Vital Fishing Industry

Researchers at the University of Maine are studying how warming Arctic waters flowing into the Gulf of Maine are affecting the region's lobster popula…

The last wild populations of Atlantic salmon in the United States are found in Maine's rivers, and groups say four hydroelectric dams on the Kennebec River need to be removed to help protect them. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Kennebec River Dams Threaten Endangered Atlantic Salmon

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine conservationists say four dams on the Kennebec River are the biggest threat to Atlantic salmon populations, and groups intend …

Fishing to Play Key Role in Next Decade of Conservation Efforts

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Members of the Maine fishing industry are among those looking forward to having a seat at the table, to make progress toward the …

A new federal Office of Climate Change is expected to address the intersection between climate change and public health; for example, pollution in certain communities leading to higher rates of respiratory illness. (spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

ME Climate Expert Applauds Exec. Orders to Tackle Climate Change

AUGUSTA, Maine -- President Joe Biden will sign a bundle of executive orders today, reversing more Trump-administration rollbacks and setting new …

Coastal restoration jobs could help Maine communities hit hard by losses in the fishing and tourism industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. (RocklandMaine.gov)

Funding for Coastal Restoration Jobs Could Benefit Maine

STONINGTON, Maine -- The U.S. House is expected to vote today on the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion bill to fund infrastructure. Part of the …

People who catch lobster for a living have opposed tighter regulations on fishing gear, even though some of the gear jeopardizes critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. (NOAA)

Three Gulf of Maine Offshore Closures Recommended to Save Right Whales

BAR HARBOR, Maine - Emergency action is being requested to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The Pew Charitable Trusts …

Maine Aqua Ventus is currently evaluating the first floating wind turbine technology in the Americas. (Maine Aqua Ventus)

Maine Could Have First Floating Wind Farm in the Americas

ORONO, Maine -- Soon, Maine could have the first floating wind farm in the Americas. Central Maine Power Company recently signed a 20-year contract …

Scientists say the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the world�s oceans. (Adobe Stock)

Gulf of Maine Warming is "Sneak Preview" of Future Global Climate Conditions

PORTLAND, Maine — As much of the East Coast experiences unseasonably warm fall temperatures, scientists studying the Gulf of Maine point to its …

North Atlantic right whales get caught in lobster and crab fishing lines, preventing them from swimming, diving or feeding normally. (Photo courtesy NOAA)

Ropeless Fishing Gear Could Aid Maine's Lobster Industry, Endangered Whales

PORTLAND, Maine — Researchers say conservationists and the fishing industry must work together to save the critically endangered North Atlantic …

According to the Center for Coastal Studies, at least eight right whales already have been found dead this year. (NOAA)

Activists Urge Fishing-Industry Changes to Protect Right Whales

AUGUSTA, Maine — Some in Maine feel new federal regulations to protect the right whale will hurt the lobster industry the state relies on…

Maine boasts 5,400 miles of mainland and island coastline, 88% of which is privately owned. (Flickr/Sunset Sailor)

Another Setback for Maine's Booming Seaweed Industry

ORONO, Maine – State lawmakers in Maine have struck down a bill that would have protected the rights of workers to harvest rockweed in …

In addition to Maine's LD 955, the U.S. Senate also is considering legislation to ban oil and gas drilling off the New England coast. (Dan/Adobe Stock)

Maine Senate Passes Offshore Drilling Ban

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Senate overwhelmingly passed an offshore-drilling ban on Tuesday by a vote of 31-4. The next step for LD 955 is Gov…

Maine fishermen caught close to 120 million pounds of lobster in 2018 and more than 100 million every year since 2011. (adamparent/Adobe Stock)

Offshore Lobster Industry in Maine Threatening Right Whales

BAR HARBOR, Maine – While the U.S. lobster industry is booming in Maine, some of its fishing methods are hurting a special group – the …

Vineyard Wind is expected to build one of the first massive offshore wind farms in the U.S., south of the Martha's Vineyard area of Massachusetts. (U.S. Dept. of Energy/Flickr)

Monitoring Offshore Wind Farm's Impact on Marine Life

AUGUSTA, Maine – A proposed offshore wind farm off the Massachusetts coast could be the first industrial-sized facility of its kind in the U.S.…

In 2018, Maine passed a resolution against President Donald Trump's offshore drilling plan. (Jack Flanagan/Flickr)

Public Hearing Set on Ban to Offshore Drilling in Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine – A public hearing is taking place today about a bill that would ban offshore drilling in Maine. It's in response to a Trump …

Floating wind turbines could be deployed farther offshore where winds are stronger. (hpgruesen/Pixabay)

PUC Backs Out of Offshore Wind Agreement

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine's Public Utilities Commission may be set to scuttle another offshore wind energy project. Citing higher electricity …

The plan proposes opening 90 percent of U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas development. (catmoz/Pixabay)

Mainers Hold Alternative to Federal Offshore-Oil Meeting

AUGUSTA, Maine — Environmental groups say the federal public meeting on a proposal to allow oil and gas drilling in Atlantic waters isn't …

Proposed EPA cuts come as the administration calls for offshore drilling off the Atlantic coast. (bones64/Pixabay)

Proposed Budget Called Bad News for Maine's Environment

AUGUSTA, Maine – Proposed cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would put air and water quality in Maine at risk, according to an …

People concerned about the environment plan to take part in the Maine People's Climate March on Saturday at the State House in Augusta. (Maine Conservation Alliance)

Maine People's Climate March Slated as Trump Marks 100 Days

AUGUSTA, Maine – Marches in Maine and across the nation are planned for this weekend to mark President Trump's first 100 days in office and the …

Critics say President Trump's budget virtually eliminates funding for proven programs to clean up the nation's great waterways. (David Partee/NOAA)

Maine Advocates: Environment Comes in Last in Trump's Budget

PORTLAND, Maine -- President Trump calls it his "America First” budget, but environmental groups in Maine say clean air, water and health for …

Dr. Tony Owens will be one of the more than 50 Mainers taking a polar plunge at East End Beach on Saturday to call attention to the need for action on climate change. (Natural Resources Council of Maine)

More than 200 Mainers Set to Take Polar Bear Plunge

PORTLAND, Maine - With temperatures forecast to be in the mid to upper 20s, a group of dedicated Mainers will be taking a plunge into the Atlantic on …

Maine is seeing limited algal blooms this summer, but the problem is on the rise across the nation and the CDC now has a new website that provide health information. (NASA)

Maine Sees Limited Algal Bloom Season

BANGOR, Maine - Algal blooms in bodies of water in New England and across the nation are increasing. It's a combined result of climate change…

PHOTO: The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on proposed rules to update standards for ground-level ozone that impact Maine. Photo credit: Jeffrey B. Ferland/Wikimedia Commons

The Nation's Tailpipe? Speaking Out About Smog in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – Because of Maine's location and the prevailing west-to-east winds, the state's unfortunate nickname in some quarters is the …

PHOTO: Maine is sitting pretty and setting the pace when it comes to meeting the goals of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which would require states to reduce carbon emissions from power plants 32 percent by 2030. Photo credit: tpsdave/Pixabay

EPA's Clean Power Plan? Maine's Been There, Doing That

PORTLAND, Maine – Maine is sitting pretty and setting the pace when it comes to meeting the goals of the Environmental Protection Agency's …

PHOTO: A new poll conducted after the midterm elections indicates a majority of voters in six of the so-called battleground states want action on the climate crisis, regardless of which way they voted. The Sierra Club believes the same would hold true for Maine voters. Photo credit: pixabay

Poll: Voters Want Action on Climate Crisis

PORTLAND, Maine – No matter which side of the political aisle they were on and no matter which way their elections went three weeks ago…

PHOTO: The EPA holds hearings across the country beginning Tuesday on its proposed Clean Air Plan aimed at reducing carbon emissions from power plants. While Maine is not a hearing site, one member of Congress is making sure her voice is heard. Photo credit: Dori / Wikimedia Commons.

EPA to Get an Earful on Clean Air

PORTLAND, Maine - The Environmental Protection agency (EPA) will begin holding a series of public hearings across the U.S. on Tuesday on the newly-…

PHOTO: Coastal storm damage, such as in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, will be more frequent as sea levels rise through the century in the Northeast, according to a new report. Photo courtesy Risky Business Project.

Report: Maine Economy Headed “Underwater?”

PORTLAND, ME - The Northeast is expected to experience a temperature increase over the next century. But a new study identified rising oceans…

PHOTO: Maine Conservation Voters has issued its annual scorecard showing how each of the state�s legislators voted on seven key environmental issues. The results are mixed. Courtesy MCV<br /><br />

Grading Maine Pols on Conservation

PORTLAND, Maine - Maine's environment scored some significant victories in the first half of the 126th legislative session and took some tough losses …

PHOTO: The Obama administration�s tough new requirements to limit carbon pollution from new power plants are being hailed in Maine.

EPA Carbon Pollution Curb Meets Maine Approval

PORTLAND, Maine - Linking global warming to disease, extreme weather and other environmental problems, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has …

PHOTO: Scientists say Maine is increasingly vulnerable to the threat of extreme weather. Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Extreme Makeover – Maine Weather Edition

PORTLAND, Maine - Extreme weather events such as Hurricane Irene and "Superstorm Sandy" have been linked to a rise in the Earth's temperature…

PHOTO: Harvesting carrots at Wolfe's Neck Farm in Freeport. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust's Teen Agriculture Program benefitted from the Quality of Place Initiative. Courtesy Devin Altobello.

Networking: Key to Keeping Maine a Quality Place?

ELLSWORTH, Maine - Saving fish populations described as "at rock bottom;" helping kids learn how to grow vegetables in three-foot by five-foot …

PHOTO: The Portland-Maine pipeline, shown here crossing Coos County, NH, is cited in a petition calling on the federal government to issue stricter regulations for transporting tar sands oil from Western Canada across New England and the Midwest.

Mainers Join to Petition U.S. on Tar Sands Regs

PORTLAND, Maine - More than 55 groups and individuals are petitioning the federal government to halt plans to pump corrosive tar-sands oil from …

PHOTO: Oil found in Gulf wetlands in 2012. Courtesy: Craig Guillot, NWF

Environmental "Trial of the Century" to Start Today

PORTLAND, Maine - Billions of dollars and the health of the Gulf Coast are on the line as the trial against BP begins today in New Orleans. Based on …

PHOTO: Sally Jewell, the current CEO of Seattle-based outdoor retailer REI, is President Obama's new nominee for Secretary of the Interior. Courtesy of REI, Inc.

Interior Department to Try On Non-Politico Secretary

PORTLAND, Maine - The head of REI, the prominent outdoor clothing and gear retail company, has been nominated for Secretary of the Interior. If …

PHOTO: A new report says lobster fisheries in the Gulf of Maine might be the

Lobster “Canary in Coal Mine” of New England Climate Change?

PORTLAND, Maine - The New England lobster, under threat from disease and invasive species, may be the "canary in the coal mine" of climate disruption…

Wind turbines off Denmark's coast. Photo courtesy NWF

A “Win-Win” for Wind Power, Whales Off NE Coast

PORTLAND, Maine - The Obama administration has announced funding for seven projects that will speed up the development of the nation's first offshore …

PHOTO: Apparent plans to pump abrasive tar sands oil in an aging pipeline across three New England states are sparking opposition from critics who fear water and wildlife will be imperiled. Photo courtesy NWF.

Tar Sands Pipeline Project “Slinking Forward” Towards Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – Two days of training for cleaning up tar sands oil spills were held this week (Tuesday and Wednesday) in Portland with the …

PHOTO: Wind turbines off the coast of Denmark. Courtesy of NWF.

Report: Time to Reel in the Benefits of Offshore Wind

PORTLAND, Maine - Some of the country's most influential environmental groups say it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind-…

Report: Biggest Green Groups Get the Most "Greenbacks"

SEARSPORT, Maine - The biggest national environmental groups get the most charitable dollars, while important conservation projects taken on by …

Next Canadian Tar Sands Pipeline Headed for Maine?

PORTLAND, Maine - Concern is growing about a plan to pipe tar sands crude oil from Ontario to Portland - especially in the wake of the controversial …

Ocean Changes Affecting ME Shellfish Industry?

PORTLAND, Maine - Those who harvest clams in Maine have a lot in common with those who raise oysters on the West Coast. Local fishermen on both sides …

Hurricane Irene Impacts Wildlife on ME Coast

PORTLAND, Maine - Mainers continue to pick up after Hurricane Irene, but it's not just people feeling the impact. The state's wildlife will take …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 19, 2024

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ME: Oceans