Crazy Idea
 

Release Babord, but all the NPCs talk about how the economy sucks and supply chains aren't working there. Except for one location in town. Then you've got a potential story prelude. And maybe a short-term bump in interest if you can make up enough other things to explore in terms of simply dialog and houses and such.

Edit: also wouldn't be hard to make it so people could dig up worms and other fishing-related stuff and sell them to the dude fishing on the beach (or the dude at the bridge, or the dude in swamp town--bonus points if they pay differently for the same items--edit 2: double bonus points if you put a new fisherman at a bobhouse in snowtown).