The Maine Department of Marine Resources’ Working Waterfront Access pilot programme will protect the wharf known as Bibber’s Lobster. The wharf, recently purchased by Jim Merryman from Bob and Marolyn Bibber, has been in business for more than 40 years. DMR states that the property is 0.4 acres of land at the end of Ash Point Road and includes 160 feet of deep-water shore front.
According to Merryman lobstering is his life as he believe in this industry and never been employed as anything else. He said he wanted to preserve this for other lobstermen and future lobstermen. He told that it is a way of life and he plans to continue to operate the wharf as it has been in the past. He first heard of working waterfront program prior to a referendum vote to approve funding and said when the Bibber property went up for sale, he decided to look into it.
He said that his decision to preserve this would assure future generations that there will be a place for commercial fishing and lobstering. Coastal Enterprises, which administers the program, has allocated matching funds to Merryman of more than $145,000 toward the purchase of the property, according to the DMR. Hugh Cowperthwaite of Coastal Enterprises said the progrfam began distributing funds in 2006 following voter approval of $2 million in funding. Since then, an additional $5 million has been approved by voters, including $2 million in November, he informed.
