PORTLAND (AP) – Maine voters on Tuesday approved tax breaks for waterfront property that supports the commercial fishing industry.

With 34 percent of the state’s precincts reporting, a proposed constitutional amendment to provide tax incentives for waterfront property that supports commercial fishing had a commanding lead, 73 percent to 27 percent, in unofficial returns.

The measure would allow waterfront land used for commercial fishing to be assessed at its current use rather than its most profitable potential use. The tax break would be similar to those already given to farmers and woodlot owners in Maine.

A similar proposal was narrowly rejected five years ago by state voters, but there was no organized opposition this time.

The aim was to preserve the Maine fishing industry, which supporters say provides nearly 40,000 jobs and generates $750 million in annual revenue.

Supporters said a Maine tradition was in jeopardy from taxes that have been escalating as waterfront values have soared in recent years. Critics said others would have to pay the price for the constitutional amendment as the taxes are shifted elsewhere.

Exactly how much working waterfront has been lost to development is unclear. But the nonprofit Island Institute said that only 25 miles of Maine’s coast can be classified as working waterfront, and that only six miles support commercial fishing.

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