Sustainable Coastal Communities: Protecting and Managing the Working Waterfront

1. Sustainable Coastal Communities: Protecting and Managing the Working Waterfront

2. Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan Working waterfronts need to be protected and promoted Under Goal 3: Support Vibrant Communities: 3.3 Assess working waterfront awareness Short-term Outcome: “ Coastal lawmakers have increased awareness of creative approaches to protect and manage the working waterfront infrastructure that marine-dependant industries require to remain competitive.”

3. Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan Sustainable Coastal Communities Protecting and Managing the Working Waterfront • Definition of the Working Waterfront • Role of the Working Waterfront in the Sustainable Community • Challenges for the Sustainability of the Working Waterfront • Approaches to Addressing these Challenges

4. What is a Working Waterfront ?

5. Coastal Communities • connection to coastal and marine systems • economic well-being tied directly to traditional fisheries and other marine resources • unique communities (long settlement history, coastal architecture, lots of interaction with people from other ports) • strong connections with other coastal communities • commitment to community (generational ties, attractive landscape, isolation)

6. Sustainable Coastal Communities a community that meets the present and future social, economic and environmental needs of today’s citizens without compromising the natural environment and the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

7. Coastal Communities • dependant on: • natural resources • access to marine waters • sustainability of the working waterfront

8. Working Waterfronts Sites and facilities providing physical access to the sea for commercial fishing and other marine commercial activities, including other facilities and services, which may not be located immediately at the shore, needed to support these activities.

9. The Working Waterfront The work of the waterfront includes fishing, small business, manufacturing, tourism, scientific research, the arts, aquaculture, transportation, and stewardship.

10. The Working Waterfront international shipping facilities mooring areas marinas and yacht clubs commercial and recreational fishing operations various service and support facilities facilities for shipping petroleum products and aggregates ferry landings

11. What is the Role of the Working Waterfront in the Sustainable Community ?

12. The Role of the Working Waterfront • traditional • ecotourism • commercial • historic • residential

13. The Role of the Working Waterfront • the link between land and sea • critical to maintaining the coastal economy • physical access to the sea • infrastructure and services to marine-dependant industry • water-dependant and water-enhanced • economic, social and environmental issues

14. Challenges for the Sustainability of the Working Waterfront

15. Challenges Sustainability of Coastal Communities • changing global and local economies • changing demographics (out-migration, rural to urban) • changing climate (storm surge, flooding, erosion) • marine ecosystem failure • water quality and availability (salt water intrusion) • energy costs/ energy conservation • aging of infrastructure • loss or threatened loss of working waterfront

16. Challenges for the Sustainability of the Working Waterfront • competition for limited land area (market value versus reasonable business value) • rising assessments and property taxes • aging infrastructure • environmental degradation of harbor waters • waste management • dredging and containment of spoils • conflicts between users • competition for harbor space, moorings and parking • adequate space for storage of gear and services • balancing needs of residents and tourists • providing access

17. Challenges - Access • Sales of waterfront lots to non-fishing owners • Conversion of wharves to non-commercial or recreational marine uses • Disputes over legal access rights • Revoking permission for access

18. Addressing Challenges

19. Addressing Challenges A community can: • involve people in solutions (encourage stewardship) • adopt a vision and take a strategic approach • create efficient infrastructure • implement strategies for energy efficiency • plan according to carrying capacity • seek economic development approaches that also benefit quality of life and the local environment • conserve fisheries and marine resources • ensure the enduring character of community, ecological, and economic vitality

20. Addressing Challenges on the Working Waterfront • planning • operations management • environmental action • education and awareness • measuring success

21. Addressing Challenges - Planning • zoning (mixed use, or water-dependant uses only) • performance or tiered zoning • value assessment for water-dependant uses • infrastructure improvements • creation of harbor improvement districts • harbor management plans • voluntary, sector-developed “best practices”

22. Addressing Challenges Options from “Cundy’s Harbor Working Waterfront Study” a village profile and development of options • Non-regulatory Options: • education about commercial fishing and working waterfronts • formation of a commercial fishing heritage trust with other coastal communities • tax policy changes • fund for investments in the waterfront • user fees • obtain land for public water access (purchase, work with land trusts or purchase development rights) • encourage car-pooling to reduce parking problems • hire a full-time harbor master

23. Addressing Challenges Options from “Cundy’s Harbor Working Waterfront Study” • Regulatory Options: • stronger working waterfront policies • and strategies in comprehensive plan • Ordinances that permit some nuisance conditions • Provide fishers first right and refusal on waterfront properties • Dedicate a percentage of parking for commercial fishers and related service providers • Zoning including restrictions on non-marine related uses • Restrictions on residential uses in shoreland areas • Consider other zoning systems – performance/tiered • Plan use of interior lands for water-independent uses

24. Addressing Challenges Indicators of Success Indicators for economic, social and environment values • area of community dedicated to traditional uses • public understanding of working waterfront issues • harbor water quality

25. Addressing Challenges Examples of Initiatives in the Gulf of Maine

26. State of Maine Maine Working Waterfront Coalition Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program a funding program for projects and property acquisition, to protect and secure commercial fishing access Working Waterfront Protection Program Cundy’s Harbour Working Waterfront Study “Contribution of Working Waterfronts to the Maine Economy”

27. Only 25 miles of a 5,300 mile coastline are devoted to commercial fishing activity…. A vital part of the solution…. allow properties related to commercial fishing to be taxed on their current use, rather than their ‘highest and best’ use …. Mapping Maine’s Working Waterfront http://www.islandinstitute.org/programs.asp?section=workingwaterfront

28. New Brunswick Coastal Areas Protection Policy: Principles: securing public access provision for coastal location essential activities Coastal Livelihoods Trust 2007 GOM Action Plan Grant education project to help children understand what it’s like to be a fisher

29. Nova Scotia • one of 6 priority coastal issues in the new Coastal Management Framework • addressed in upcoming State of the Coast report • Will be addressed in the future Sustainable Coastal Development Strategy • Coastal Communities Network • Between the Land and the Sea (2004) includes assessment of value of working waterfronts http://www.coastalcommunities.ns.ca/

30. New Hampshire • 12 miles of coastal shoreline • 78% in private ownership • challenge is to maintain traditional uses • boat access-salt marsh restoration project

31. Massachusetts New Bedford, Massachusetts • issue of non-water dependant uses of the waterfront • work to preserve and enhance vessel-related infrastructure • 1990 Waterways Regulations Program: “Protect and promote tidelands as a workplace for commercial fishing, shipping, etc……” • 11 State “Designated Port Areas” and specific development standards • efforts to promote expansion of water-dependant use Demonstrations, tours and performances