One solution for Maine's struggling fishing industry? Give fillets away for free

Fishermen Feeding Mainers offers a lifeline for Maine's struggling groundfishing industry by purchasing locally caught fish, processing it, and donating fillets to schools and food banks. Since its late-2020 launch, the program has spent more than $4 million to buy and process about 1.3 million pounds of fish. The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association operates the effort, which began with a $374,000 anonymous donation and now relies on private gifts, grants, and state and federal support. Fishermen like Devyn Campbell of Boothbay say prices collapsed during the pandemic, and the program has helped stabilize earnings. The initiative has donated more than 1.8 million meals since October 2020, with last year alone delivering over 200,000 meals.

A unique feature is returning fish to communities that rarely see it, including northern Maine schools that drive long distances to collect deliveries. Auctions at the Portland Fish Exchange trigger program-funded buys when prices dip, after which the fish are filleted, frozen, and distributed to food banks and schools. Mary Hudson of the association notes the program could help create future markets as students grow into consumers. By supporting fishermen's livelihoods and addressing food insecurity, Fishermen Feeding Mainers strengthens Maine's protein supply across the state.