COURTESY OF MAINE FARMED SEAFOOD COALITION
Cultivating food for human consumption is among the most noble and important jobs in society. Harnessing the resources gifted to us by nature and turning them into delicious meals for our neighbors and visitors is a challenging task, and farmers—of both the land and sea—deserve our gratitude.
Our pristine waters produce the most exquisite seafood on the planet. The flavors of our farmed oysters, mussels, and salmon are desired by the finest chefs in America and envied by seafood producers all over the world. Maine’s sea farmers are the ones who make it possible for us to be nourished by this local, sustainable, and delicious food.
The Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition consists of over 50 businesses and industry support groups—including seafood farmers and dealers, banks, educational institutions, and nonprofits. Our goal is to tell the authentic stories of sea farmers and educate the public about the opportunities aquaculture presents for our economy, communities, and ecosystems.
While our wild-caught fisheries continue to feed us and sustain our communities, there is limited economic growth in these heritage industries. Maine aquaculture has grown significantly over the last decade, producing more food and doubling the number of jobs it contributes to Maine’s economy. Aquaculture employs young Mainers from fishing families and attracts new Mainers who are starting their careers working on our waters. Our working waterfronts are more vulnerable than ever, facing pressure from gentrification and real estate development, and they are more secure when utilized by a variety of marine users. The sector is stronger as our farmed and wild fisheries work together.
Our communities are supported by aquaculture in profound ways. Sea farmers support families—putting meals on tables, directly supporting local goods and services companies, and helping kids through trade school or college.
Oyster aquaculture has become inextricably connected to the Damariscotta River region, turning it into a major culinary tourism destination and fostering a community and culture of sea farming. Further up the coast, Washington County, a region with strong generational ties to the sea, has experienced a drain of young people seeking job opportunities elsewhere. As traditional fisheries face pressure from regulatory and environmental changes, salmon aquaculture is allowing more people to keep working on the water, and it has become one of the largest employers in Washington County, helping to preserve Downeast Maine’s marine heritage.
This is all possible because of our relationship with our natural resources, the cold clean waters which our sea farms rely on. This dependence is not lost on our aquaculturists. Sea farmers are environmental stewards. Our shellfish actively clean our waters, sea farmers along the coast host regular coastal cleanups, and Maine’s high standards for ecological impact mean our salmon farmers are leading the world in the development of sustainable fish farming methods. Maine farmers are showing the rest of the world what sustainable food production can be.
At the Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition, we are proud to represent the hard working aquaculturists who are driving innovation and preserving our marine heritage.