Shore Access

As a fishing community, Gouldsboro depends on its working waterfront. Intertidal lands are part of that waterfront. Maine adopted its laws governing the intertidal zone from Massachusetts, including a 1647 law that granted everyone permission to use the intertidal zone for “fishing, fowling, and navigation.” Consequently, subject to other laws governing hunting seasons and licenses for fishing and clamming, anyone can use the land between low tide and high tide for hunting, fishing, clam digging, and other forms of “fishing, fowling, and navigation.”

If they can get there.

Most of the land along the shore is in private hands. Not many years ago, private landowners often worked out handshake arrangements that enabled clam harvesters to get to the shore. But property along Gouldsboro’s shore has been changing hands quickly, a trend that has accelerated since the onset of COVID, when more people began working remotely. The Gouldsboro Shore project is working to keep these arrangements in place whenever possible. Here is the latest news on what we have been doing.

Latest Posts

Addressing Change in Gouldsboro

A Sunday workshop at Peninsula School brought Gouldsboro residents together to talk about change. They considered impacts of sea level rise, severe storms, rising house prices, broadband, food insecurity, and the future of the old cannery. If you missed it, this will catch you up.

Meet Ada Fisher

We are delighted to announce that Ada Fisher has joined the Gouldsboro shore team as an intern. A junior at Sumner Memorial High School, Ada is considering career options that will keep her connected to the shore and ocean. Ada will contribute to all parts of the Gouldsboro Shore program.

Gouldsboro Shore in the News

Gouldsboro and its Gouldsboro Shore program have been in the news lately. We link to an article that Rachel May published in Outrider that looks at the Shellfish Lab and Anne Berleant’s article in the Ellsworth American about what Gouldsboro is doing to protect waterfront access.