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
Tonry Cove Seafood, Edgecomb
Richard and Amber Tonry own 5 acres of land with 375 feet of deepwater frontage on the Damariscotta River (Lincoln County). Richard is a full time lobsterman, but to pay the property taxes and support his family, he and Amber also need to work at other part time jobs just to meet living expenses. Their application proposed to repair and enlarge their family owned wharf to facilitate access by three aquaculture companies which grow oysters and mussels on leases situated in the estuary. In return, these companies will pay the Tonrys access fees and will have the opportunity to build a packing/processing building with refrigeration and running seawater storage. With a restrictive covenant in place, the land will qualify under Maine’s Working Waterfront Tax Law to receive a substantial reduction in annual property tax assessments. The joint agreement is a win-win arrangement for everyone. The Tonrys were allocated a WWAPP award of $145,750.00 for their sale of a restrictive covenant on the property to the Land for Maine’s Future Board.
