What is the Downeast Fisheries Trail?
The Downeast Fisheries Trail is an educational trail that showcases active and historic fisheries heritage sites, such as fish hatcheries, aquaculture facilities, fishing harbors, clam flats, processing plants and other related public places in an effort to educate residents and visitors about the importance of the region’s maritime heritage and the role of marine resources to the area’s economy. The Trail builds on these local resources to strengthen community life and the experience of visitors.

For more information, view our two-page fact sheet (PDF 267 K).

What should be on the Downeast Fisheries Trail?
Do you care about Downeast Maine’s fishing heritage? What aspects of our fisheries past and present should visitors to Maine and the next generation of Maine coastal residents know about?

Take a short survey to share your thoughts about our region’s fisheries heritage and the opportunities to link fisheries and tourism. Help identify what should be highlighted on the Downeast Fisheries Trail!

Regional Meetings about Downeast Fisheries Trail, Spring 2010
To help identify what aspects of our fisheries past and present should be highlighted on the Trail, meetings have been held in Machias (hosted by Sunrise County Economic Council), Stonington (hosted by Penobscot East Resource Center), Winter Harbor (at Schoodic Arts for All) and Bar Harbor (hosted by the Bar Harbor Whale Museum). The complete notes and a summary report of the outreach on the project to date are available here:  

Summary of Initial Outreach Results (PDF file - 3 pages)

Initial Outreach Results (PDF file - 19 pages)

To learn more about the project or get involved, contact Natalie Springuel, Maine Sea Grant (288-2944 ext 5834).