More than 100 residents of Southwest Harbor turned out in force Tuesday evening, August 15, to unanimously enact 180-days moratorium against the use of any facilities of the town by cruise ships.
Local fishermen and residents fought back against a proposed call next month by the 210-passenger ship Pearl Mist, arguing that the vessel would rip up fishing gear.
The moderator of the special town meeting on the moratorium, Maurice Joseph Marshall, said most Southwest Harbor residents appreciated the difference between their community and Bar Harbor, which has a busy cruise ship schedule.
In 2016 the Pearl Mist ship anchored off Northeast Harbor and residents voted to ban the ships. Neighboring Tremont community is also weighing a possible ban.