On positive unintended consequences: 'We cannot imagine a Maine coast without puffins'

Maine’s puffins have benefitted from conservation efforts, from which a successful “puffin economy” has emerged.

Historically, island Lighthouse Keepers chased gulls away from their roofs as they needed clean water for their cisterns. This happened to protect seabird colonies from predators. Later, human pressures reduced seabird colonies, eliminating puffins entirely.

In the 1970s, conservationists restored nesting puffins to those islands where people could chase away predators. 

A partnership of the National Audubon Society, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge (MCINWR) began to manage Maine’s islands for wildlife. Academic partners provided island interns who lived there 24/7, from May to August. It is now a renowned success, unique to Maine.

Tourists also embraced the puffins’ return, and by 2005, the “puffin economy” (small businesses) was worth $2 million peryear. Today it is estimated to be $5 million per year – a positive unintended consequence from puffin conservation efforts. 

While puffin tourism has steadily increased, the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System has suffered steep declines in federal funding. 

Mark Lender at the CT Examiner notes (Read National Wildlife Refuge System Nears Collapse) that the NWR has 2,300 staff and needs $2.2 billion in 2025 for operational requirements.

By comparison, the National Park Service  has 30,000 staff and requested $3.57 billion for 2025.

The NWR manages 10 million more land acres, and 757 million more marine acres than NPS.

Through the Great American Outdoors Act, NPS will receive $15 an acre, while the Refuge System gets only $0.11 an acre. The inflation-corrected NWR operational budget for 2025 represents a reduction of 25% from 2023.

Last summer, the Friends of Maine Coast Islands National Wildlife Refuge  provided 11% of island interns’ actual costs, because we cannot imagine a Maine coast without puffins. 

Be positively consequential: support our wildlife and your Refuge.

Barbara S. Mogel is chair of the Friends of Maine Coast Islands National Wildlife Refuge