The Midcoast Fishermen's Association seeks to:

  • Enhance ecological and financial sustainability of the fishery while minimizing habitat impacts with alternative fishing practices;
  • Communicate and collaborate with the regulatory bodies that govern our fishery;
  • Form alliances with organizations and individuals who share our vision;
  • Convene local fishermen to discuss and create positive solutions for our fishery;
  • Promote public awareness about the historic and economic value of Mainešs fishing communities;
  • Develop innovative ways to market our seafood;
  • Create a business model that allows the public to participate in the recovery and sustainability of this fundamental resource.

Port Clyde, Maine finds itself in a unique and precarious situation. Although a small village of fewer than 350 year-round residents, its harbor holds the state's largest remaining groundfishing fleet east of Portland, consisting of 10 small boats and 20 fishermen.

Like all fishing communities in the United States, Port Clyde faces enormous challenges. Overfishing threatens to completely deplete the resource, excessive bycatch threatens other species, and habitat damage can be difficult to reverse. As permit-ownership consolidation increases, and public policies decrease profits, it's the rural coastal communities and fishing families who feel the impact most. For generations, these small villages have depended on the health of the fisheries resource. Now they face extensive job loss, reduced wages, business closings, and diminishing fish populations.

What can 23 fishermen do to stem the tide?

How will we back up our claim of freshness and sustainability?

What does the future look like?