| Maine May Give More Protection
to Commercial Waterfront Property
January 17, 2000 By John Sackton Comments: tsackton@seafood.com Seafood.com - In a situation that is replicated around the country, commercial fishing operations in Maine are being forced into a smaller and smaller portion of the waterfront, due to soaring real estate values. Legislation has been proposed to protect commercial fisheries use of the waterfront, by reducing property taxes to actual commercial value of the marine use. The proposal would define as commercial any dock where fish or lobsters are sold, or where gear is stored. The impact would be to give tax relief not only to the major users of commercial waterfront, but also to fishermen in Maine's coastal communities who have local docks or moorings. News and commentary by John Sackton at http://www.seafood.com, the web site for commercial seafood buyers, sellers and consumers. http://www.seafood.com/archives/0001/sfdpriv/news1/20000117MMGP.html
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