Maine groups receive federal grants to help train the next generation of fishers

A photo of a Maine lobsterman
The grants were awarded through NOAA’s Young Fishermen's Development Program, which provides financial support for workforce and career development efforts for the commercial fishing sector | Photo courtesy of spwidoff/Shutterstock
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Correction: The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association confirmed it received USD 91,062 from the NOAA Fisheries grant, not the USD 1.8 million government officials originally announced.

NOAA Fisheries has awarded USD 387,404 (EUR 356,478) to two Maine-based groups to help train the next generation of fishers.

“Maine is known around the world for our proud fishing heritage thanks to the generations of hardworking men and women who have sustained it,” Maine’s congressional delegation said in a joint statement. “These investments in youth workforce development will help ensure that young Mainers entering the commercial fishing sector have the skills and support they need to succeed, preserving the strength of this vital industry now and into the future.”

The grants were awarded through NOAA’s Young Fishermen's Development Program, which provides financial support for workforce and career development efforts for the commercial fishing sector.

USD 91,062 (EUR 83,793) was awarded to the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA), which will use the money to build an online knowledge hub with educational training and career development content. The hub will also provide information on “caring for physical and mental well-being as part of the commercial fishing industry.”

“MCFA’s mission of advocating for sustainable fisheries and vibrant fishing communities is focused on doing this work with the goal of building a brighter future for the next generation of fishermen and fishing businesses in Maine,” MCFA Executive Director Ben Martens said in a statement.

Another USD 296,342 (EUR 272,880) was awarded to the Eastern Maine Skippers Program, a Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF) initiative that provides maritime and environmental education at Maine high schools. The grant funding will help the program offer targeted career development opportunities for young fishers, training roughly 80 high school students and 16 post-graduates.

“Thanks to [the Young Fishermen's Development Program's] support, MCCF's Eastern Maine Skippers Program will be able to continue to meet our next generation where they are and provide them with very authentic maritime and marine science learning to support future maritime careers, including fishing and science skills that directly translate into the workforce here in Maine and elsewhere,” MCCF Executive Director Alexa Dayton said. “The future of lobstering and maritime careers in Maine is bright, and this program is helping to keep kids in school to complete their education and providing mentorship to help them put it all together for the long run. The great news is we have demand for the program from teachers, students, and families, and that's a signal that we're still going strong with a vibrant fisheries economy in Maine.”

The Young Fishermen’s Development Program was established by law in 2020 with the backing of U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine).

“The Young Fishermen’s Development Act, which was identified as a priority by the Fishing Communities Coalition, provides much-needed resources to invest in our next generation, and we are pleased to be able to deploy funds to create educational tools to advance fishermen wellness,” Martens said. “Thank you Senator Collins, Senator King, Representative Pingree, and Representative Golden, who co-sponsored this important legislation and who have continued to lead in ensuring it is annually funded.”


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