Maine’s Department of Marine Resources
Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program
C/O Coastal Enterprises, Inc,
2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 206Portland, Maine 04101, 207-772-5356
Potts Harbor Lobster at Bibbers Wharf, Harpswell
As a working waterfront property for nearly forty years, this land with wharf and buildings located on Ash Point in South Harpswell (Cumberland County) has been owned by Bob and Marilyn Bibber who have bought and sold lobsters from Harpswell fishermen. Now that they are nearing retirement, the Bibbers are working with Jim Merryman, owner of Potts Harbor Lobster, also of Harpswell, who wants to expand his own business while buying the property, effectively acquiring a ½ acre lot with 160 feet of shore frontage, a sheltered wharf, and the boats that he can attract to unload their catch there. Receiving a WWAPP allocation will help pay a portion of the purchase price of the property and result in placement of the restrictive covenant. Some boats that formerly sold their catch to the Bibbers will continue to land at the site and sell to Jim Merryman. When including the catch from Jim’s own boat, his lobster wholesale and retail business will double in size. Meanwhile the Bibbers will have the satisfaction of knowing that their property will continue as working waterfront forever. Potts Harbor Lobster was granted an allocation of $145,750.00 from the Land for Maine’s Future Board for the sale of the working waterfront covenant to help purchase the property.
