Potts also wants the coalition to be a major voice in marine environmental issues in Connecticut. The government thinks that, if we're in business, we're anti-environment, and we're not. It's part of our business. Our marinas provide probably more than 80 percent of the access to Long Island Sound and the rivers. Folks are not going to want to have a boat in Connecticut unless the water's clean.
Commercial fishermen are part of the cluster.
Clean water is a big issue for them, too. Maritime interests built Connecticut. So a partnership between Mystic Seaport and the Maritime Coalition is a natural one, in Cox's view. The Seaport also owns other vintage and contemporary oyster boats, Cox says. Everyone is competent and interested, and we're trying to find the best ways to illuminate our common interests.