Coastal Conversations

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

What was commercial fishing, and especially the salt cod fishery, like in the nineteenth century?
What is the field of historical marine ecology and what can it tell us about Maine’s fisheries past, both socially and ecologically?
What have you learned from the nineteenth century vessel log books, which captains filled out in order to claim their saltcod bounty payment?
What was happening specifically in the Frenchman Bay region’s historical fishery from this treasure trove of vessel log books and other data sources?
How does understanding past fisheries help us manage for present fisheries?

Guests: Karen Alexander and Bill Leavenworth, historical marine ecologists

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Sardine canneries created jobs for generations of Mainers living near the coast for more than one hundred years, and cultivated values centered on hard, honest work and community. Sardines gave many Mainers an income during the Great Depression, presented opportunities for women to enter the workforce, and ingrained life-long bonds and stories in Maine communities that are still visible today.

On this edition of Coastal Conversations, we feature nine interviews centered around Maine’s historic sardine industry. These interviews span the entire process of creating a can of sardines, from late night weir-tending, to cutting off fish heads with scissors, to “cartoning” and shipping out truckloads of cans. The interview clips we featured today explore the history of the industry, from its humble beginnings to its eventual death, when Stinson Seafood, the last sardine cannery in Maine, closed down in 2010. In this show, we explore the lives of people deeply connected to the small silvery fish, and their impact on Maine and its communities.

Special thanks first and foremost to Camden Hunt for his near-total leadership on production for this show! We also appreciate the help of Ela Keegan, Hannah Robbins, Galen Koch, and Molly Graham, for production support.

The following people are featured on this show:

Arlene and Pete Hartford, age 73 and 76, from Gouldsboro, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2011
Susan Knight Calder, age 84, from Whiting, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2013
Willard and Peter Colson, age 88 and 56, from Southwest Harbor, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2011
Lela Anderson, age 80, from Corea, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2011
Diana Young, age 66, from Prospect Harbor, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2011
Myrtess Harrington, age 80, from Steuben, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2013
Clell Genthner, age 75, from Damariscotta, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2011
Al West, age 62, from Steuben, interviewed by Keith Ludden in 2012
Robert Dyer, age 82, from Chebeague Island, interviewed by Joshua Wrigley in 2013

Citation for the Oral History collection

We are grateful to the archives that have helped protect this important facet of Maine history. Though the interviews clips we used on our episode of Coastal Conversations have been edited for clarity and length, the original nine interviews are archived at the NOAA Voices Oral History Archives. Robert Dyer’s interview is part of the Maine Coast Oral History Initiative – the other eight are all from The Last Sardine Cannery Collection, also housed in Oral History and Folklife Research, Inc.

Specific Links for each interview are as follows:

Arlene and Pete Hartford
Susan Knight Calder
Willard and Peter Colson
Lela Anderson
Diana Young
Myrtess Harrington
Clell Genthner
Al West
Robert Dyer

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

-Differences in fisheries management in Maine vs PEI.
-How and why these women got into fishing?
-What and who inspired them and mentored them in their fishing careers?
-What does being a woman bring to the job?
-What do they love about fishing?
-What do they recommend to other women who want to go fishing?

Guests:
Marlene Chapman, homeport Murray Harbor, Prince Edward Island, fishes for lobster off the coast of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, near Pictou Island
Holly Masterson, homeport Southwest Harbor, Maine, fishes for lobster, scallops, groundfish, and when the fishery is open, shrimp too.
Giulia Cardoso, homeport Bar Harbor, Maine, fishes for lobster, scallops and halibut.

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

-Oral histories collection from the 1970’s called Life of the Maine Lobsterman, housed at University of Maine Fogler Library Special collections.
-Three multi-hour interviews, condensed to 12-20 minute clips with the highlights.
-Tribute to Andrew Gove, a lifelong lobsterman from Stonington who passed away the weekend of June 20, 2020.

Featuring:
Edwin Lawson, age 74, of West Tremont, Maine, interviewed by Rita Swidrowski in 1972.
Andy Gove, age 44, of Stonington, Maine, interviewed by David Littleton-Taylor in 1974.
Tim Staples, age unknown (perhaps in his early 20’s), of Swan’s Island, Maine, interviewed by David Littleton-Taylor in 1974.

The three interviews featured in this show are archived at the Raymond P. Fogler Library Special Collections, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. They are part of the Northeast Archive of Folklore and Oral History which was started by and, until recently, housed at the Maine Folklife Center.

Special accession numbers are as follows:

Life of the Maine Lobsterman collection MF037

Edwin Lawson NA0726

Andy Gove NA0970

Tim Staples NA 0897

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Did you know that Downeast Maine is home to some of the very best fish habitat along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States! This month’s episode of Coastal Conversation is Salters and Salmon, a conversation about Sea-run Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon!
We talk fisheries biology, conservation history and fishing stories with Rob Packie, President of the Downeast Trout Unlimited, Jeff Reardon, Trout Unlimited’s Maine Brook Trout project director, Dwane Shaw, executive director of Downeast Salmon Federation, and Joe Robbins, a founding board member of Downeast Salmon Federation who started fishing for salmon in 1959.

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

As global and national seafood markets shut down, the demand for local Maine seafood by residents is on the rise.
How does the seafood supply chain work and how do disruptions affect it.
What support is available for fishermen and aquaculture farmers to help their businesses survive during the pandemic.
How can local consumers access local seafood?

Guests:
Joanna Fogg, the owner of Bar Harbor Oyster Company
Sebastian Belle and Afton Hupper, both from the Maine Aquaculture Association
Marianne LaCroix, from the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, and
Ben Martens, from the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest Producer/Host: Catherine Schmitt
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Key Discussion Points:
a) bringing young people into nature for studies that have implications for their families and communities makes science relevant and real.
b) schools provide research capacity in rural communities
c) outdoor classrooms have lifelong impacts.

Guests:
Bill Zoellick, Schoodic Institute Education Director Emeritus
Sarah Hooper, Schoodic Institute Education Specialist
Mike Pinkham, Gouldsboro Shellfish Warden

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, substitute for Natalie Springuel
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Key Discussion Points:

What is University of Maine Sea Grant, and its role with Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy? What is the purpose of the Alliance, how is it funded and how does it make strategic investments
What is the current status of the marine economy and challenges— how the Alliance is helping the industry address those challenges, with examples of investments by the Alliance with Mook Sea Farms, Springtide Seaweed, Downeast Institute for Applied marine Research and Education, and Ready Seafood
What some of the remaining challenges for the marine economy in Maine?
What are hopes for the marine economy in Maine?

Guests:
Keri Kazor, Coordinator, Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy, UM Sea Grant
Sarah Redmond, founder, Springtide Seaweed, Gouldsboro; organizer, Maine Seaweed Fair
Bill Mook, founder, Mook Sea Farms, Walpole (Damariscotta River)
Diane Tilton, Executive Director, Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education, Beals
Curt Brown, Marine Biologist, Ready Seafood, Portland.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download