Today’s guests are Robin Alden, the former executive director of the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF) in Stonington, and Joanna and Phineas Sprague, the co-founders of Portland Yacht Services.
Love Maine Radio #335: Robin Alden + Joanna and Phineas Sprague
Guests
Robin Alden
Robin Alden is executive director of Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), a nonprofit organization in Stonington, Maine. Alden co-founded MCCF in 2003 with the goal of securing a sustainable future for fisheries and fishing communities in eastern Maine and beyond. MCCF works with fishermen, regulators, scientists, and policymakers to develop new approaches to fisheries stewardship and economic vitality, approaches that are realistic, grounded, and adaptive given a changing climate. She also served as Maine Commissioner of Marine Resources under Governor Angus King, where she initiated the Maine lobster zones, a revered example of effective fisheries co-management. She also founded, published, and edited the regional trade fishing newspaper, Commercial Fisheries News, for 20 years. She co-founded the Maine Fisherman’s Forum, served two terms on the New England Fishery Management Council and worked with Maine Sea Grant. In 2017, Alden received the Peter Benchley Hero of the Seas award for her grassroots work integrating fishermen’s knowledge into science and policy, and in 2016 she was honored as a White House Champion of Change for Sustainable Seafood. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Maine.
Joanna and Phineas Sprague
Joanna and Phineas Sprague are the co-founders of Portland Yacht Services. The boatyard currently has 12,000 customers, from rowboats with electric trolling motors to some of the biggest passenger boats on the Portland waterfront. After developing a love of sailing, the Spragues purchased in the Portland Company in 1978 and went on start building Portland Yacht Services in the early 1980s. Phin was also founding president of SailMaine, and he helped establish the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum.