MCFA Staff in DC: Advocacy, Optimism and Concern

Written by Ben Martens, MCFA Executive Director

Ben Martens and Emily Coffin on Capitol Hill.

At the close of April, I had the privilege, alongside MCFA’s Seafood & Fisheries Policy Coordinator Emily Coffin, of representing MCFA in Washington D.C. as part of the Fishing Communities Coalition. For those unfamiliar, the Fishing Communities Coalition is a network of small, industry-based organizations – much like the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association – working to champion the interests of community-based fisheries across the United States.

Several times throughout the year, this vital coalition undertakes trips to Capitol Hill, ensuring that the voices of fishermen are heard where policy decisions are made. It's becoming increasingly clear that our collective voice is more critical than ever amidst the current period of significant disruption and change affecting policy, NOAA funding, scientific initiatives, and small business support within our industry.

For this trip, we focused our conversations with congressional representatives on the potential opportunities presented by the recent executive order on seafood, titled "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness," issued by President Trump. Earlier this year, the Fishing Communities Coalition spearheaded a sign-on letter to the administration supported by over 200 fishing businesses, which we presented to delegates in our first DC trip of this year. We were encouraged to see many of our requests reflected in the executive order. These included a focus on collaborative research, strategic investments in seafood infrastructure, robust support for small fishing businesses, and the streamlining of burdensome regulations.

While we are genuinely pleased by this alignment, we also recognize that the true measure of success lies in the effective implementation of these ideas. It remains to be seen whether these initiatives will genuinely benefit the diverse fleet of small boats that call Maine home or if they could inadvertently undermine crucial protections we've fought hard to establish. Concerns remain regarding continued access to vital fishing grounds like the Northern Gulf of Maine for our small-boat scallop fleet, the safeguarding of critical habitats, and robust levels of accountability to ensure a level playing field and accurate data collection.

Despite a packed schedule and tens of thousands of steps logged in the warm Washington D.C. air, Emily and I were able to secure significant facetime with our congressional delegation and other coastal offices throughout the United States. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing commitment to supporting Maine's commercial fishermen, working waterfronts, and the broader seafood industry.

When we undertake these advocacy trips, we arm ourselves with high-level talking points that convey our key messages alongside personal stories from the waterfront that bring the realities of our industry to life. While the President's executive order holds promise, many fishermen harbor concerns that potential NOAA staffing and program changes could undermine the very goals of this initiative, particularly in the short term.

Emily Coffin, Representative Pingree, and Ben Martens after discussing the importance of working waterfront to Maine.

We shared and echoed these concerns about the potential defunding of NOAA and the far-reaching implications this could have for small-scale fishing operations. These boats rely heavily on the timely implementation of regulations, access to the best available science, clear accountability within management processes, and ultimately, the rebuilding of abundant fish stocks in our oceans. 

While we firmly believe there is considerable work to be done to make NOAA a more effective and responsive institution, our perspective is that any reforms should be approached with precision and careful consideration – akin to using a scalpel and a magnifying glass. It is this measured approach that we are urging Congress to adopt as they deliberate the budget of our federal government. 

We look forward to continuing these conversations in future trips to DC with the Fisheries Community Coalition.