Fuller Marine seeks Fish Pier lease
The Fish Pier of Boothbay Harbor. of Boothbay Harbor. The white and red buildings in the background on the left will be demolished and rebuilt when new construction begins. The crane in the foreground loads heavy barrels of bait onto waiting lobster boats. Below: Several lobster boats bob in the calm water off the Fish Pier, while their owners wonder where the summer bait will come from. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Several lobster boats bob in the calm water off the Fish Pier, while their owners wonder where the summer bait will come from. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
The Fish Pier of Boothbay Harbor. of Boothbay Harbor. The white and red buildings in the background on the left will be demolished and rebuilt when new construction begins. The crane in the foreground loads heavy barrels of bait onto waiting lobster boats. Below: Several lobster boats bob in the calm water off the Fish Pier, while their owners wonder where the summer bait will come from. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Several lobster boats bob in the calm water off the Fish Pier, while their owners wonder where the summer bait will come from. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
On April 30, David Reingardt’s lease on the Fish Pier will end, and Kettle Fish will move out of the space. The question is, will there be still be a bait business on the Fish Pier May 1?
The answer is yes, if Chuck and Jeanne Fuller have anything to say about it.
The Fullers own and operate Fuller Marine Services in Boothbay and have been in business since 2000. They have been trying to lease the Fish Pier from its owner, the town of Boothbay Harbor, since February.
The Fullers said they feel it is very important to be in business May 1, so there is no lapse in the availability of bait for local lobstermen. Since the town of Boothbay Harbor plans to tear down and rebuild two buildings on the property (the freezer and processing buildings), any leaser of the property will have to deal with construction.
“It is crucial to us that there is no lapse in sales at facility, for both our sakes and the lobstermen. It benefits us if they don't look elsewhere,” Jeanne Fuller said.
Chuck Fuller agreed. “It will be more difficult for everyone, dealing with construction, but doable and better for the lobstermen,” he said. “We intend to be in operation May 1 if at all possible.”
Recently, the Fullers met with Town Manager Tom Woodin and Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen Chairman Bill Hamblen March 20. They also met during an executive session of the Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen on April 8 dealing with “Economic Development of the Fish Pier.”
“I get a good feeling from Chairman Bill Hamblen,” Jeanne Fuller said. “I think he wants to see this work.”
“We plan to meet again later this week to continue discussing the lease,” Jeanne Fuller said. “There are no firm plans right now, but we are definitely moving forward with the town. We are very hopeful and excited about this, and are still planning to be open May 1.”
Ed Tibbetts owns Atlantic Edge Lobster, which is next to the Kettle Fish facility. He was concerned about what effect a vacant bait business would have on his lobstermen, and is glad to see the location being leased.
“It’s about lease protection for Atlantic Edge,” Tibbetts said. “I need to protect my fishermen so they can get the bait they need.”
Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.
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