The last sardine cannery in Maine closed in 2010 but a new company aims to bring fish canning back

The last large sardine cannery in Maine closed in 2010, but Maine Canned Fish aims to revive canning by packaging flounder, cod, oysters and other seafood in attractive tins. The operation is set in a Topsham industrial park near I-295, with plans to be up and running by this summer. The company sources fish from the Portland Fish Exchange to Frenchman’s Bay and as far north as Lubec, expanding opportunities for Maine fishermen, particularly in groundfish. Co founder Joshua Scherz, along with his mother, markets BELA sardines canned in Portugal, noting that 95% of the US canned seafood market is imported and infrastructure is limited.

Maine Canned Fish is part of Dirigo Labs, a 12-startup accelerator program run by the Central Maine Growth Council in Waterville. Program Manager Jeff Frank says the cohort works on pitches, term sheets and financing options while building leadership skills. The plan includes four initial hires this summer, followed by twenty more as the business scales; USDA has approved seven varieties including cod, scallops and lobster, with mid-June licensing expected to clear the way.