Island Institute

05/29/2026

Can you guess the marine gear from these close-ups? 👀🔍

Check the comments to see how well you can spot common working waterfront gear! How many did you get right?

05/28/2026

🌊 The devastating winter storms of 2023 and 2024 caused extreme shoreline change in many of Maine’s island and coastal communities. These storms emphasized the risks of sea level rise and erosion that come with living and working on the coast.

In response to these challenges, many coastal communities are exploring solutions through nature-based strategies (NbS), which differ from traditional tactics like riprap. Our staff experts break down what NbS for shoreline stabilization can look like and what their potential benefits are.

Check out the full educational video to learn more about NbS 👉 https://bit.ly/4fIwts3

05/19/2026

Tune in to our final podcast episode of the season and meet sea farmers tackling the pesky buildup of algae, barnacles, and mussels on their gear—AKA biofouling.

We hear from Cranberry Oysters, who has found a better way for her team to flip oyster cages. And in southern Maine: Maine Ocean Farms and Ocean Farm Supply are developing a plastic-free alternative to oyster bags and testing it with researches on Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership as a promising solution to biofouling.

🎧 Listen here 👉 https://bit.ly/3NmvP7R

📸 Nicole Wolf Photography
🎙️ Galen Koch of The First Coast
This podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.

05/14/2026

Microgrids are having a moment in rural communities—but what exactly are they?

In the remote communities that dot Maine's islands and coast, it can often take days to restore power after a storm. A microgrid, which is a system that uses local energy generation to serve local energy load, is one exciting potential solution to these challenges.

Our new blog, penned by Island Institute's resilient energy team, breaks down what microgrids are and how they fit in coastal Maine’s unique energy landscape. Dive in to Microgrids 101 here 👉

Microgrids are having a moment in rural communities—and for good reason. Island Institute’s resilient energy team breaks down what microgrids are and how they fit in coastal Maine’s unique and often challenging energy landscape.

05/12/2026

Can you name this Maine island? Comment your guess below!👇

Hint: This island seceded from the City of Portland in 1993, becoming the first new town in Maine since 1925. Today, the community is exploring nature-based solutions to address coastal erosion driven by sea level rise and increasingly intense storms.

05/07/2026

Can people still afford to live where they work on Maine’s coast?

Right now, too many can’t. Families are being pushed out, young people can’t find rentals, and employers are struggling to hire. Communities know what needs to be done. They just need the capacity to make it happen.

Island Institute is helping turn plans into real solutions through our new housing initiative.

Give today to help build a future where Maine’s coastal communities can thrive. Support this work here: https://bit.ly/4d49kxq

05/05/2026

Kelly Hinkle, AKA The Downeast Cowboy, is a second-generation lobsterman. With the uncertainty of the lobster industry, he did what lobstermen do best: he adapted.

Kelly partnered with his father (Ronnie Hinkle) to launch Eastern Edge Sea Salt. With support from Island Institute, they purchased essential equipment to bring their new business to life and diversify their income!

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4tekeGU

05/01/2026

If you’re a master of project management who thrives on collaboration and wants to strengthen communities' capacity to navigate complex housing challenges, we have a career opportunity for you!

We’re hiring a Senior Community Development Officer for Housing to lead a new initiative that helps coastal and island communities reach their housing goals.

Learn more, apply, or share with your network: https://bit.ly/3OxweoQ

04/29/2026

Maine is experiencing a housing affordability crisis.

A 2024 survey found that 64% of households across Maine can’t afford a median-priced home—and on the coast, that number rises as high as 81%. From 2020 to 2025, the income needed to afford the median-priced home doubled, while median income only increased by 31%.

We know communities along the coast are building solutions to meet the challenge—they just need more capacity to reach their housing goals. That's why we're launching a bold new housing initiative, focused on providing technical support, capacity building, and resources for coastal communities.

👉 Learn more and support our housing initiative: https://bit.ly/4tFWoVs

04/27/2026

The Maine Seaweed Week fun continues with a new From the Sea Up podcast episode—featuring local seaweed business Maine Coast Sea Vegetables!

This new episode explores how coastal businesses are using alternative economic models to remain resilient. We also meet Kristin Isfeld, an oyster and kelp farmer who worked with the Maine Family Sea Farm Cooperative to keep her operation small and flexible.

🎧 Tune in to learn how adaptation can take shape not just on the water, but in the way businesses are structured. Listen here 👉 https://bit.ly/3NmvP7R

📸 Nicole Wolf
🎙 Galen Koch / The First Coast
From the Sea Up is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.