Fishermen Feeding Mainers, a program of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, will be
receiving $750,000 in federal funding thanks to an appropriations request submitted by Senator
Collins and Senator King. The successful request, which was moved through the appropriations
committee of which Senator Collins serves upon, will provide funding for the program through
Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.
The Fishermen Feeding Mainers program began in October 2020 in response to the collapse of
local markets and rising food insecurity in Maine. Initially funded by an anonymous foundation,
the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association partnered with Good Shepherd Food Bank to distribute
donated fish to food pantries, meal sites, and additional hunger-relief organizations located
throughout the state. With an original goal of serving 100,000 meals, the program's quick success
was buoyed by the Department of Marine Resources and Governor Mill’s office as part of the
CARES Act, and hundreds of individuals, businesses, and foundations which have contributed to
help deliver over 1.25 million meals to date. The funding secured by Senator Collins and Senator
King will ensure this program can continue over the next year.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Senators King and Senator Collins who have
continued to be amazing champions of the working waterfront, Maine fishermen, and this
program. Feeding Maine communities local seafood, and especially getting local seafood into
schools is a huge win for our state. We are thrilled to be able to continue this good work,” said
Executive Director Ben Martens.
Through the program, MCFA purchases fish directly from Maine fishermen which is then
processed locally and donated to the Food Bank and distributed to food pantries, meal sites,
schools, and other community organizations.
“With the support of partners like the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association and the advocacy of
Senators Collins and King, Good Shepherd Food Bank, as Maine’s largest hunger relief
organization, is proud to expand our offerings to the more than 600 partners located across the
state. The addition of locally caught fish enriches nutritional diversity, furthering our mission to
provide increased access and nutritious options to our neighbors facing food insecurity,” stated
Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.
To date, the Food Bank has purchased more than 900,000 pounds of fish, including haddock,
cod, monkfish, flounders (such as dabs and grey sole), and pollock. The fish is distributed
through the Food Bank to the state’s hunger-relief organizations, providing them access to a
source of high-quality, sustainable, and delicious protein.
“Participating in Fishermen Feeding Mainers has been an incredibly rewarding experience for
me both personally and as a member of the MCFA and Maine commercial fishing industry,” said
fisherman Vincent Balzano, owner/operator of F/V Northern Lights out of Portland. “Being able
to help feed my neighbors is an important part of why I became a fisherman, and I am proud that
I can help put healthy food on the tables of families in my community.”
This spring, the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program celebrated a milestone of having provided
over 1.25 million meals to more than 250 food pantries and 30 school districts from Kittery to Fort
Kent. In addition to the donations to schools and through Good Shepherd Food Bank, MCFA has
also worked with multiple community groups and Maine Health Pantries to provide fish to
multicultural and new Mainer families.
The program has infused more than $2.2 million back into the Maine economy and donated more
than $9.75 million worth of local seafood throughout the state.
“The Fishermen Feeding Mainers program supports fishermen by helping them supply food
banks with locally caught seafood,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will assist the Maine
Coast Fishermen’s Association and their partners in their efforts to support Maine’s fishermen,
working waterfronts, and blue economy while supplying fresh, healthy seafood to those in need.”
“People across Maine deserve access to basic food and nutrition, no matter what town or
socioeconomic background they come from,” said Senator King. “With a bounty just off our
shores, I am proud to support Good Shepherd Food Bank and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s
Association’s Fishermen Feeding Mainers project that is bringing fresh-caught Maine seafood
to those who need it most. I always say that Maine is one big, small town that supports one
another, and this project is proof that we don’t leave anyone behind. Thanks to my colleagues
and the good people at this incredible organization for working diligently to support our
community.”
The goal for this program is that it can grow to include more species and more recipients to both
support the fishermen and help address food insecurity. It also offers an opportunity for Mainers
to learn more about the variety of local seafood available to them and how to prepare it in
delicious ways.
“Food insecurity continues to be an issue in our state as we move beyond the pandemic with one
in four Maine children at risk for hunger,” said Don Morrison, Operations Director, Wayside
Food Programs, Portland, ME. “Fishermen Feeding Mainers has had a measurable impact on
our ability to serve families in need, and we are extremely grateful to continue working with
MCFA and local fishermen and seafood processors on this program.”
