A New Way to Help Maine’s Fishing Industry

The fishing industry in Maine is currently facing a difficult time. Many fishermen who catch groundfish—species that live near the bottom of the ocean, such as cod and haddock—are struggling to make a living. According to NPR Business, rising costs for fuel and food have made it very hard for these workers to keep their businesses running. The situation became much worse during the COVID-19 pandemic when many restaurants closed, causing the market for local fish to disappear almost overnight.

To help solve this, a special program called Fishermen Feeding Mainers started in late 2020. This program raises money from private donors, grants, and government funds to buy fish directly from local fishermen. Once the fish is bought, it is processed into fillets, frozen, and given away for free to schools and food banks across the state. NPR Business reports that the program has already spent more than $4 million to buy about 1.3 million pounds of fish.

For fishermen like Devyn Campbell, who works in Boothbay, this program has been a necessary lifeline. Before it started, he often faced very low prices for his catch at auctions. When the market price for a type of fish drops, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association uses the program’s money to buy the fish before the price falls too low. This gives fishermen more security because they know they will not lose money on their hard work, even when the market is unpredictable.

This initiative does more than just support the fishing crews; it also helps the community. Many schools and food banks in Maine have trouble buying fresh fish because of rising prices. According to NPR Business, retail seafood prices went up significantly at the end of 2025. Because of this, many institutions simply cannot afford to put fish on the menu. The program provides a free, healthy source of protein to these groups. In fact, some school districts have been willing to drive for more than 10 hours to pick up the frozen fish for their students.

At first, some people were worried that children would not enjoy eating fish. Mary Hudson, the director of fisheries programs at the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, noted that parents and teachers were hesitant at the start. However, those worries disappeared once the students actually tried the meals. Hudson explained that the children really like the fish. Since October 2020, the association has donated more than 1.8 million meals to various organizations, with over 200,000 meals provided just last year.

Looking toward the future, the program aims to do more than just provide immediate help. By serving fish in schools, the organization is teaching a new generation of children to enjoy local seafood. Hudson believes this will create future markets for Maine’s fishing industry. As these students grow up and start buying food for their own families, they will already be familiar with the local catch. This long-term goal is a key part of why the program continues to seek support.

Despite these successes, the industry still faces many challenges. Inflation—the general increase in prices over time—continues to make life difficult for everyone in the state. Fishermen like Campbell are still dealing with the high costs of operating their boats. While the program has been a great success, it remains a temporary solution to a much larger economic problem. For now, however, it offers a way to keep the boats on the water and the food banks stocked during these tough times.

In conclusion, the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program shows how creative thinking can help solve complex economic issues. By connecting the needs of local fishermen with the needs of schools and food banks, the program has created a system that helps everyone involved. It keeps the local economy moving, provides healthy meals to children, and ensures that Maine’s fishing heritage can survive even when the market is struggling. As the program enters its sixth year, it remains an important example of how communities can work together to face economic pressure.