March 13th, 2025, PORTLAND – A new coalition of business, environmental and economic development organizations is launching an education campaign to support the growth of Maine’s aquaculture sector by helping people understand farmed seafood’s valuable contributions to Maine, the strict regulations governing it, and, when necessary, correcting misinformation about it.
“As consumers, we depend on imported seafood from places that often don’t have the environmental or labor regulations we have here in Maine,” said Sebastian Belle, Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Association. “At the same time, Maine’s oceans are changing, putting fishing communities and working waterfronts all along the coast at risk. With aquaculture, Maine can produce local, sustainable, healthy and great-tasting seafood while keeping working waterfronts working and fishing communities vibrant in a changing world.”
“The United States imports about 80% of the seafood consumed here, and over 50% of those imports is farmed seafood. Transportation of imported seafood from countries in Europe, Asia and South America generates a significant carbon footprint,” said Andrea Cianchette Maker, President of FocusMaine. She continued, “Growing seafood in Maine creates local jobs, supports local communities, is closer to local and domestic markets and adds value to Maine’s Gross Domestic Product. Farmed seafood, also called aquaculture, helps to support and sustain Maine’s overall fishing industry.”
Despite its importance to Maine’s economy, working waterfronts, and fishing communities, aquaculture has become the target of organized opponents who often use fear and misinformation to hinder the industry.
The new coalition, which includes Maine Aquaculture Association, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), FocusMaine, Island Institute and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), launched Thursday at Bangs Island Mussels in Portland. Bangs Island Mussels shares a wharf with other working waterfront stakeholders, including a seafood wholesaler, a boat tour company, and an upscale restaurant serving top-quality Maine seafood.
“Maine farmed seafood helps preserve our maritime heritage and supports Maine’s coastal communities with jobs,” said Nick Branchina, Coastal Enterprises Inc. “Maine farmed seafood is high-quality, healthy and sustainably grown under some of the strictest regulations in the world. It’s renowned by chefs and diners for its quality, it tastes great, and it’s local.”
“Climate change and a reduction in Maine’s wild-caught fisheries threaten island and coastal communities and the state’s working waterfronts. Aquaculture can help to revitalize both,” said Sam Belknap of Island Institute.
With Maine’s strict regulations, coastal waters are protected. All of Maine’s active sea farms combined could fit within Rockland Harbor.
Industrial-scale aquaculture is prohibited in Maine:
- Maine sea farm sites can be no larger than 100 acres, and most are much smaller;
- Leases for aquaculture sites are limited to 20 years and are revocable at any time for cause;
- The state has strict limits on the size and type of farms allowed in Maine waters.
Over the past 50 years, Maine has refined its thorough permitting process, including public participation and strict environmental reviews. Depending on what they grow and how they grow it, Maine’s sea farmers must comply with more than 20 federal and state regulatory laws and many more regulations.
Maine’s aquaculture regulations are considered the gold standard for best practices and many other states and countries are beginning to use them as the basis for their own regulations. In cooperation with environmental groups and federal and state regulators, Maine sea farmers were some of the first in the world to develop best management practices (BMPs). They were also some of the first to include third-party auditing of those practices. Many of those practices are now being imitated in other states and countries because they significantly reduce environmental impacts.
Maine aquaculture is leading the way for more sustainable, locally produced seafood and is prioritizing responsible and sustainable growth for the industry.
For more information, visit: www.mainefarmedseafoodcoalition.org.
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Contact: David Farmer
(207) 557-5968