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

Gouldsboro Submits Draft 2025 Comprehensive Plan

Gouldsboro has submitted a draft of its revised Comprehensive Plan to the State of Maine for review. The Plan presents a vision for Gouldsboro’s desired future and suggests ways to realize it. Here we present a copy you can read or download.

Harbor Resilience Meeting

Fishermen and other Gouldsboro residents are invited to a conversation about three Gouldsboro harbors on Saturday, May 17, at 1 PM. The meeting will focus on the town’s harbor infrastructure in Prospect Harbor, Bunkers Harbor, and South Gouldsboro. This is the first of a two-meeting series that will shape the town’s investments in these harbors

Geo for Good Impact Award

Google has given Gouldsboro a “Geo for Good” Impact Award for the work it did using Google Earth to preserve and expand shore access for clam harvesters. Pauline Angione and Vicki Rea used Google Earth to put key access points in context with shore ownership.