SEAMaine, or the Seafood Economic Accelerator for Maine, is an industry-led initiative bringing together leaders in Maine’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood economy. Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), with match funding from the Maine Technology Institute and Focus Maine, the statewide initiative is developing a roadmap and action plan for economic growth, market and workforce development, and greater resiliency in Maine’s seafood economy. MCCF's Executive Director Paul Anderson was recently invited to serve as chair of the Data Benchmarking Subcommittee, which is working with a team of consultants to identify available data on Maine’s key marine species to help inform the development of the SEAMaine Roadmap.

There are three other subcommittees that are exploring seafood marketing strategies, emerging technologies, and workforce needs. This EDA-funded initiative will run through most of 2022 and there is plenty of opportunities for fishermen, seafood businesses, aquaculturists and other interested parties to share information and ideas. Ultimately, this planning exercise will help the seafood sector and the communities that depend on seafood for their local economies to maximize the sustainability and prosperity of this sector through further investments in infrastructure and other needs to help fishing and seafood businesses to succeed. The effort is also considering other threats to sustainable seafood including the “Maine Won’t Wait” initiative that was derived from Maine’s Climate Action Plan (2020).

The Maine Fishermen's Forum is cancelled for the second-year in a row, but the event's Board of Directors will offer online programming including informational seminars. The annual three-day event brings fishermen, seafood dealers, and other industry members, as well as policy and lawmakers from the region together to discuss important issues directly affecting Maine's commercial fishing industry. Upcoming virtual events include:

Thursday, February 17 at 3:00pm - 4:30pm: Upcoming Changes to the Management of the Federal Scallop Fishery in the Northern Gulf of Maine

Wednesday, March 2 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Maine Lobster Marketing Council’s Annual Marketing Update

Wednesday, March 23 at 3:00pm - 5:00pm: Annual Open Forum with NOAA Fisheries Leadership

Additional information can be found on the Maine Fishermen's Forum website.

The lobster fishery has several biological indicators of how the stock is doing, but we do not have any complementary indicators of social or economic resilience of the fishery. Join us on Friday, February 25 at 12:30pm for a one-hour discussion on how we are developing these indicators in collaboration with the fishery and shore side fishery-related stakeholders. Save the date and register here.

We'd like to thank our series sponsors: Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Camden National Bank, Island Fishing Gear & NAPA Auto Parts, and the Island Fishermen's Wives

Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF) recently announced the retirement of Executive Director Paul Anderson and has has appointed a search committee consisting of staff and board members.

Our organization seeks a dynamic, forward-thinking non-profit leader with a passion for Eastern Maine’s rural fishing dependent communities to be its next Executive Director. The successful candidate will have experience guiding a nimble organization to make a positive impact in a rapidly shifting environmental and regulatory landscape.

View the full job posting and qualifications summary.