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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 JA N UA R Y 1 3 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S E C O N O M I C F O R E C A S T e goal is to prepare coastal communities to address current and emerging environmental, economic and social and cultural challenges and opportunities using scientific, local and traditional knowledge and assets. Actions include supporting efforts, and working with partners, to understand and center community needs and assets as the foundation for activities that build resilience to change. e desired outcome is for communities to build resilience and to leverage assets and external support. Convenings throughout coastal and working waterfront communities have explored how to better respond to and prepare for future storms. "ese convenings have given community members the opportunity to create new networks and learn from each other to be best prepared for additional storms as their frequency increases," says Zydlewski. She continues, "Another way we support resil- ience efforts is to fund research and extension services that facilitate efforts to identify, prioritize and address challenges and opportunities related to changing environmental, economic and social/ cultural conditions." e projects align with Maine Sea Grant's work in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and healthy coastal ecosystems, along with environmental literacy and workforce development initiatives, she says. "Our communities are well situated with support from local municipalities, supportive NGOs, small businesses, and state and federal support to be resilient to environmental changes we are likely to experience in 2025," says Zydlewski. "Maine Sea Grant looks forward to working with coastal communities to be sure our work supports the needs of those communities, from research to educa- tion and technology transfer." C R U I S E S H I P S Bar Harbor likely to see cruise ship slump, but other ports remain strong B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r B ar Harbor has seen political and legal chal- lenges around cruise ship visitation in recent years, with several pending legal cases as the local conversation evolves. "e reductions in Bar Harbor will continue in the 2025 season, with only around 67,000 passengers scheduled to visit, which is down from a peak of nearly 300,000 scheduled in 2022," says Sarah Flink, executive director of CruiseMaine. D'arcy Main-Boyington Economic Development Director ecdev@brewermaine.gov / 207-989-7500 W W W. B R E W E R M A I N E . G O V/ B I Z Come see why Brewer means business. Forward Thinking Innovative Consistency You Can Count On P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E S E A G R A N T C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Our communities are well situated with support from local municipalities, supportive NGOs, small businesses, and state and federal support to be resilient to environmental changes we are likely to experience in 2025. — Gayle Zydlewski Maine Sea Grant Gayle Zydlewski

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