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Senate committee hears Maine and Oregon officials on building a coordinated ‘blue economy’
Summary
Speakers from Maine and Oregon told the Senate Interim Committee on Energy and Environment that coordinated ‘blue economy’ clusters, workforce programs and modest state supports—rather than new broad regulation—could expand coastal industries, add value to seafood and support resilience. Lawmakers pressed for procurement and regulatory fixes to boost local seafood markets.
Mike Conathan, who helped lead Maine’s Blue Economy Task Force, told the Senate Interim Committee on Energy and Environment that the state’s task force — created by 2024 legislation — settled on a five‑sector definition of the blue economy and recommended two near‑term priorities: a blue‑economy center and workforce development pathways. “Most of our time was coming to agreement on a description and a definition of the blue economy,” Conathan said, adding the task force delivered a report to its legislature and is finalizing a second draft.
The presentation framed the blue economy as both a way to support legacy coastal industries (such as fishing and shipbuilding) and to cultivate emerging sectors like marine…
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