A sad farewell to an era: After more than 50 years of dedicated service, Commercial Fisheries News has printed its final issue, marking the end of an institution deeply rooted in the heart of Maine's fishing community. This monthly newspaper, based in Stonington, has been a vital source of information for the Northeast's commercial fishing industry for decades. But here's where it gets controversial... the December edition was its last.
The closure comes as a result of several factors, including dwindling advertising revenue, the changing media landscape, and the retirement of Senior Editor Brian Robbins, a Stonington native. At 67 years old, Robbins reflects on the end of an era, stating, "It is very sad, and it’s a big change in life." He added that at least they got to do it on their own terms.
This closure highlights the shrinking news landscape and the evolving ways people consume and share information. Commercial Fisheries News wasn't just a newspaper; it was a local institution with around 5,000 subscribers, dedicated to telling the stories of Maine's iconic fishing and boatbuilding industries.
The newspaper's origins trace back to 1973, co-founded by Nat Barrows and Robin Alden. Alden, after two decades of publishing and editing, later served as the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources and founded the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. The paper's concept was born from an argument Alden overheard between an oceanographer and a shrimp fisherman, as she shared at a local journalism event. She noticed a disconnect in understanding, leading her to create a platform that would connect different types of knowledge.
Initially, the publication was a monthly trade journal, considered "revolutionary in concept" at the time, and was mailed to all seafood license holders in the state. In 1980, it expanded its focus to include all of New England and changed its name to Commercial Fisheries News.
Later, the publication was sold to Compass Publications, based in Virginia. Following Robbins' retirement, the company decided not to hire new leadership. Robbins recalls that in the early days, Commercial Fisheries News was a primary source of information for fishermen, providing updates on fisheries management decisions and political matters. He joined the team in the 1980s as a freelance writer and later became a full-time staff member.
As the internet made it easier for fishermen to get policy news, the paper shifted its focus to human-interest stories. Robbins explained that "When times get tougher, people like to know how other people are dealing with things." But this wasn't the only challenge the paper faced. The publisher, Rick Martin, suffered a debilitating stroke in 2021 and passed away from cancer earlier this year. Robbins had to take on additional responsibilities. In addition, Robbins was battling three strains of Lyme disease and babesiosis, and realized this spring that it was time to step back. The closure was announced in October.
Robbins noted the older readership and uncertainty around the future of commercial fishing as factors in the closure. He expressed pride in Commercial Fisheries News and its final issue, stating that it "deserved the class and dignity that we tried to put into it."
The staff has received an outpouring of support, particularly through handwritten letters, which mean the most to Robbins. He hopes that physical media will survive, stating, "I wouldn’t want to live in a world where there wasn’t ink on paper, where there wasn’t magazines and newspapers and books." He feels honored to have been entrusted with people’s stories and hopes to continue writing about the fishing community.
What do you think? Do you believe that the shift to digital media has made print publications obsolete? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
