19. Machias Seal Island: The Forgotten Border Dispute
This uninhabited 20-acre granite outcropping sits in the Gulf of Maine’s “gray zone.” It is the last unresolved territorial dispute between the nations. Canada maintains a lighthouse with Coast Guard personnel. American lobstermen fish the surrounding waters claimed by both countries. Confrontations between competing fishing crews occur regularly. During a 2018 escalation, Canadian patrol vessels reportedly stopped and questioned American fishing boats. Neither government seems motivated to resolve the conflict.
