Annual Gratitude and Impact Reports
Wow, 2024 Donors!
You helped us achieve so much last year.
The year started as one of the most heartbreaking that our fishing families can remember, as back-to-back January storms ripped wharves from their pilings, caused massive erosion, and reduced iconic fish houses to splinters. Thanks to YOU, MCFA was there to help fishing businesses begin the long process of rebuilding with information, dumpsters to remove debris, assistance preparing applications for state recovery funds, and funding for small businesses that had nowhere else to turn.
The only things left are 48 pilings. Everything else is washed away.
You are part of a truly amazing community of donors who help fishermen advocate for sustainable practices, build resilient businesses, keep their bodies and minds strong, stay safe at sea, and care for their communities.
But 2024 wasn’t just about storm recovery.
You helped MCFA bring hope and stability to Maine’s fishing communities in so many ways, from the delivery of direct programming to our success in attracting federal funding to Maine to fuel new partnerships.
It’s hard to choose the most impactful achievements, but our team wants to share their top ten ways that donations to MCFA contributed to a better present and future for Maine’s fishermen, their families, and communities:
Photo by David McLain - a Staff Fav!
10 / Picture Perfect
We worked with acclaimed photographer David McLain to capture hundreds of amazing photos and hours of video footage that tell the stories of fishermen working in Maine’s lobster, scallop, menhaden, and clam fisheries. The first gallery of a selection of these images was hung at the Press Hotel in Portland for January-March 2025.
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Stay tuned for more events featuring these
stunning images of Maine fishermen.
9 / Fishermen's Voices
Together with other Fishing Communities Coalition members, MCFA staff and Maine fishermen visited 36 D.C. offices in two days to inform national policies and programs. Our advocacy helped federal policymakers and agency staff understand the needs and perspectives of community-based fishermen nationwide on core issues such as training for young fishermen, seafood in the Farm Bill, working waterfront protections, industry safety and wellness, equity in the national standards that guide fishing regulations, and climate impacts.
8 / Loving Local
Three small family-owned food companies ramped up capacity to bring products featuring fish caught by Maine fishermen to market.
7 / Wellness Samples
200 wellness kits were distributed to fishermen, with sample products for hydration, recovery, injury prevention, and stress relief, as well as information on local mental health services.
6 / StrengthenME
150 fishermen, town managers, and harbormasters in 31 Midcoast communities were connected to resources to assist with persistent post-storm challenges.
5 / More Data
10 Maine fishing boats collected ocean temperature data during their normal fishing operations, contributing real-time data to ongoing research efforts.
4 / Fish for Lunch
Our list of collaboratively made value-added products continues to grow, with a fishcake currently under intense scrutiny and review by our panel of expert taste testers… kids. Students in four school districts gave rave reviews to new fishcakes made with dabs, a species of flounder Maine fishermen can catch in abundance.
3 / Anchoring Quota
We took ownership of three permits worth roughly $1,000,000. This anchors fishing access in Maine communities for Maine fishermen, today and in future generations.
2 / Fish is Food
250,000 lbs of fish were purchased from Maine fishermen this year, ensuring they received a fair price during market lulls and bringing the total Fishermen Feeding Mainers donations to food pantries and schools to 1.6 million meals!
"Better than Pizza!"
1 / Together, We Persevere.
Over $200,000 in recovery grants were distributed to 40 fishing businesses. We’ve talked a lot about this work in the past year, but we’re still so proud of how communities came together to support each other and local fishermen. While the rebuilding process continues, we are glad that we could provide
stress-free support to these fishermen, thanks to the support of dozens of community fundraisers, businesses, and foundations and to hundreds of individual donors.
Photo by David McLain
2024 Financials
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