Efforts to preserve working waterfront access in York Harbor, Pemaquid Harbor, and Goose Cove on Mount Desert Island have won state conservation funding totaling $785,000, according to the Land for Maine's Future Board and Department of Marine Resources.

The funding will help preserve properties valued at nearly $3 million and protect access for a combined 28 boat in southern, mid-coast, and Downeast sections of Maine. The fishing boats that rely on the access account for 60 jobs in the fisheries and support services, the agencies said. Use of these facilities also could expand by more than a third, they said.

The Land for Maine's Future Board gave preliminary approval to grants from its Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program to purchase covenants that will restrict any future development of the land which conflicts with the commercial fisheries use.

The Old York Historical Society will use some of the funds to restore and preserve the historic John Hancock Wharf on the York River for commercial lobster boat access and landings. The Pemaquid Fishermen's Cooperative in Bristol, considered the oldest fisheries cooperative in the country, will use the funds to invest in improvements that stabilize and increase membership and revenues. And one of the last full service, fishermen-owned commercial wharves on Mount Desert Island will use its funding for renovations to save labor and increase earnings.

Funding for the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program was created in 2005 and continued in 2007 when Maine voters approved two bond issues totaling $5 million. The program has conserved or is working on nine working waterfront properties with a combined fair market value of over $8 million, according to the announcement.