New Fisheries Trust of Maine Will Ensure Access for Generations of Maine Fishermen
Nonprofits partner with fishermen to keep groundfish quota in the state
Media Contacts
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Ben Martens
Executive Director, Maine Coast Fishermen's Association
Email: ben@mainecoastfishermen.org -
Jeremy Cluchey
Director of Public Affairs, TNC in Maine
Email: jeremy.cluchey@tnc.org
The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) and the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are proud to announce the formation of the Fisheries Trust of Maine. This new MCFA program will anchor federal groundfish permits in Maine, helping to ensure long-term access for local fishermen. To support the launch of the trust, TNC transferred three permits with more than 500,000 pounds of associated groundfish quota to MCFA for long-term ownership and stewardship, and MCFA contributed the purchase of a scallop permit.
Housed at MCFA, the new trust will provide stability and security for fishing communities, leasing quota to Maine fishermen and ensuring continued local access for generations to come. Fishermen in these fisheries work in a “cap and trade” system where they are annually allocated pounds of fish they are allowed to catch. Fishermen often need to lease additional quota, which can be a significant barrier to entry due to expenses or availability.
“Without the access that these permits provide, I don’t think we’d be able to go out groundfishing,” said Vincent Balzano, a fisherman from Portland. “This is a lifeline to the next generation, and it’s critical for our survival.”
The establishment of the Fisheries Trust of Maine builds on work to preserve fishery access that TNC began in 2010 in partnership with Maine fishermen. Fewer vessels were landing in Maine, permits were being sold out of state and TNC recognized the critical need to anchor permits locally to preserve future access for the next generation of Maine fishermen. TNC began buying permits from willing sellers and leasing quota at discounted rates to fishermen partnering with them on collaborative research projects focused on developing more selective and sustainable fishing practices.
TNC’s plan was to eventually transfer ownership of these permits to a mission-aligned nonprofit organization. TNC has enjoyed a great partnership with MCFA and the fishermen it represents over the past 15 years—making it a natural choice for long-term ownership and management of the permits.
“TNC is proud to support the launch of the Fisheries Trust of Maine and its critical efforts to secure long-term access to the groundfish fishery for Maine fishermen,” said Geoff Smith, Marine Program director for TNC in Maine. “MCFA has proven to be a trusted and valued partner in our efforts to help ensure healthy fish populations and viable fishing businesses in the Gulf of Maine. We look forward to continuing this partnership through the work of the trust.”
“This is an essential long-term strategy for MCFA,” said Ben Martens, executive director for MCFA. “Investing in these permits represents an investment in access forever. For all the work we do to build better fisheries on the water, to build better markets here on shore, if fishermen don’t have the access, that work may not have a lasting impact. We are incredibly excited to launch the Fisheries Trust of Maine and protect access to fishing permits for the long term.”
Martens added: “We are thrilled to take on the work that TNC started 15 years ago and to bring more opportunities to the fishermen of today and the future. Maine is seeing a next generation of fishermen coming up in the world, looking at the opportunities that the Gulf of Maine holds. That’s what this work has really allowed us to do with our fleet: think not just about the next year, but the next five years, the next 10 years, what we are going to be doing together to make it better.”
Moving forward, MCFA will continue to work with TNC and local fishermen to grow the Fisheries Trust of Maine and ensure stable, equitable access. This includes providing opportunities for fishing families to adapt and diversify their business plans, participate in research and innovation, and stay resilient in the face of changing oceans and regulations.
To learn more about the new Fisheries Trust of Maine, please watch this brief video:
The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association is an industry-based nonprofit that identifies and fosters ways to restore the fisheries of the Gulf of Maine and sustain Maine's fishing communities for future generations.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.
