Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel Coastal Conversations: Conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast, hosted by the University of Maine Sea Grant Program. In mid-July 2022, nearly 200 people gathered in Boston for the sixth National Working Waterfront Network conference. Working waterfronts are where people who make their living on the sea can access the water. They include ports, harbors, piers, wharves, launch ramps, mudflats, boat yards and more. The National Working Waterfront Network meets every 2-3 years to swap stories and strategies for strengthening and protecting waterfront infrastructure and working access to the coast. At the 2022 conference, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine\u2019s 1st Congressional District, long a working waterfront champion in partnership with Maine\u2019s full delegation, gave a closing address during which she highlighted the importance of keeping the spotlight on these complex and critical spaces for our national economy and local, coastal culture. Voices throughout the event echoed the Congresswoman\u2019s message, and on today\u2019s Coastal Conversations show, we bring you some of those voices. Today, we feature portions of Representative Pingree\u2019s address, along with stories and perspectives from people connected to working waterfronts in Maine, Louisiana, Oregon and California. All voices shared in today\u2019s show were recorded at the National Working Waterfront Network Conference 2022. Guest/s: Afton Vigue, Maine Aquaculture Association Dominique Seibert, Louisiana Sea Grant Jamie Doyle, Oregon Sea Grant Michael Nelson, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, California About the host: Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation\u2019s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called \u201cPortland\u2019s Working Waterfront.\u201d Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.
\nThe post Coastal Conversations 8/26/22: National Working Waterfront Network conference first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.