By Ernie Burgess, Special To The Press Herald

CHEBEAGUE ISLAND — I’ve fished for 66 years and I’ve fished for just about everything up and down Casco Bay. I’ve gone for halibut, hake and cusk, lobstered and gone line fishing, scalloping and clamming. I’ve even gone dragging.

(Portland, Maine) -- A group of citizens who have been working to ensure continued access to Maine’s oceans has formed a new coalition Protect Maine's Fishing Heritage. The group has been active in advocating for lobstermen who are losing acres of fishing grounds to aquaculture leases in some parts of the state. The organization also supports Maine residents who are concerned about losing access to the ocean for recreational usage.

Lobstermen from Machias to Boothbay Harbor rallied July 21 on the Stonington Commercial Fish Pier to draw greater attention to the issues facing the survival of their industry and the livelihoods of coastal Maine communities.

FRIENDSHIP — As with many Mainers, I’ve felt myself basking not only in the transition to summer, but also in a sense that Maine has made great progress in the care of its natural and social resources. As a coastal resident, though, I still see many unresolved and growing issues surrounding the intertidal zone and the expansion of aquaculture within the state. Recent court rulings and petitions for Department of Marine Resources rule-making, as well as legislative efforts, have yet to give us clear direction for the future.

BRUNSWICK — I have spent most of my life on the water employed in the commercial fishing industry, and so have generations of family and close friends. Lobstermen are a tight-knit group of men and women who work hard in a dangerous occupation – which, depending on the year, can have unpredictable rewards. We are an industry that is part of Maine’s iconic brand – the Maine lobster. The best in the world. A nearly $500 million-per-year industry.