Dozens of working Maine waterfronts will split up some $21.2 million provided by the US state to aid in recovering from the damages caused by last winter's catastrophic storms, the Portland Press Herald reports. 

Maine governor Janet Mills announced the funds being made available from the Working Waterfront Resiliance Grant program on Monday (July 22). They are to be distributed among 68 working waterfronts to help businesses reconstruct and improve damaged piers, rebuild and restore support buildings like bait sheds, and repair and upgrade fuel and electrical systems, according to the newspaper.

The US lobster industry will benefit the most, as Maine is by far the country's most prolific producer of North American lobster, landing 42,517 metric tons worth $464.4m in 2023.

Back-to-back January storms unleashed heavy rain, flooding, ocean swells, high tides and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour that ripped away entire wharves and scattered fishing equipment and gear across harbors, the newspaper recounted. Some experts estimate over $70m worth of damage.

It looked like a bomb went off, said Pat Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

The smallest award announced on Monday was for $6,650 given to Emmons Lobster, in Kennebunkport, while the largest awards, $2m each, are going to the town of Rockport and several wharves in Portland.

The New Harbor Co-op received $516,000 to help it replace both docks after the storms destroyed pilings, snapped fuel lines, left the office with no support structure and damaged the electrical wiring and the freezer, according to manager Linda Vannah. She said the docks will be built two-feet higher, and the office will be moved to a safer location.

"With these repairs, we should be able to withstand the more intense storms we're seeing and continue to serve the fishermen who depend on us," Vannah said.

To maximize the program's effectiveness, eligible projects had to include "critical working waterfront infrastructure" that served at least 10 commercial fishermen or aquaculturists, according to the statement from the governor's office.

Officials reviewed 80 applications. Applicants were required to provide a 1:1 financial match toward the cost of the work. Awards were capped at $2m.

"Working waterfronts are a cornerstone of our coastal communities and our economy, and last winter's devastating storm demonstrated just how vulnerable they are to extreme weather and climate change," Mills said. "These grants will help rebuild working waterfronts so they are able to better withstand future storms, protecting access to the water now and for generations to come."

Not all of the loss and expense related to the storms is being compensated for, said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fisherman's Association. 

"Ultimately, there's still millions and millions and millions of dollars of losses on our working waterfront, and it means many of these are not going to be built back to the standards they should be," he said.