Learn more about some of the partnerships that developed during the pandemic which are increasing access to healthy local sources of protein through donation, education, and increased purchasing options.
Left to right: MFC Coordinator, Harriet with Shannon Brenner of Community Food Matters and Chris Borden of Foothills FoodWORKS holding salmon.
Increasing access to fish for all.
MFC worked with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to help connect fish from derbies with individuals. In June, we received salmon from a derby near Rangeley. MFC directed half of the fish to partners in Norway and delivered half to families in the Brunswick area.
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) developed the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program, supporting both fishermen and residents experiencing food insecurity. MCFA has just passed over 260,000 meals donated through their Fishermen Feeding Mainers program. MCFA has donated to over 60 community partners, schools, and after school programs. They have been able to stabilize the market price for fish to the point that fishermen are coming back to Maine for the first time in almost a decade. It has been amazingly impactful for our local boats, infrastructure and communities. As part of the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program, MCFA is working with Maine Sea Grant to create educational tools for recipient schools to use to teach students about the fishermen, marine resources, and communities.
Learning to cook fish?
Mackerel stuffed with gleaned vegetables.
MFC, Curtis Memorial Library, Maine SNAP-Ed and the Merrymeeting Gleaners collaborated on a whole fish cooking class with mackerel and gleaned produce. Missed it? Watch and learn to cook whole fish with Ally.
MCFA partnered with Now You’re Cooking. Watch and learn to cook a Hake Cake with Ben.
Looking to buy local seafood?
-Options for buying from fishermen/harvesters directly online has increased through groups like The Maine Seafood Connection and Maine Fish Direct.
-MCFA maintains a list of seafood retailers here.