COURTESY OF MAINE FARMED SEAFOOD COALITION
In March of 2025, the Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition (MFSC), was launched to support the Maine farmed seafood sector. Today the MFSC has over 35 companies, associations, and individuals working together to tell the compelling story of Maine farmed seafood and aquaculture.
Our mission is to support sustainable seafood, strengthen coastal communities, and protect Maine’s working waterfronts by promoting the many contributions of farmed seafood to Maine families and communities: strengthening food supplies, reducing climate impacts, creating jobs and economic growth, and preserving the working waterfront.
Founded by FocusMaine, the Maine Aquaculture Association, World Wildlife Fund, Coastal Enterprises Inc., and the Island Institute, we are united in our commitment to Maine’s maritime economy, its rich coastal heritage, and the future.
Maine’s fishermen and sea farmers produce local, healthy, sustainable, and great-tasting seafood from the working waterfronts of many Maine coastal communities.
Maine’s farmed seafood is not just food—it’s a vital part of our state’s economy and a meaningful contributor to environmental health and coastal community resilience.
Yet, despite its promise, aquaculture is not sufficiently understood and sometimes faces opposition.
Here are some facts about aquaculture:
- Aquaculture directly supports over 1,000 jobs in Maine.
- 99% of Maine sea farms are family-owned.
- Farmed seafood helps to protect the ocean and relieves pressure on wild-caught fisheries.
- Maine’s aquaculture regulations are viewed worldwide as the gold standard for best practices and environmental protection.
- More Maine-based farmed seafood strengthens our food supply and ensures that the seafood we eat is produced locally according to our rules.
- Aquaculture improves the overall environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the quality of Maine waters.
Mainers want the facts about farmed seafood—and the people growing it. Of Mainers who are familiar with aquaculture, 8 out of 10 support the industry’s growth, with 6 out of 10 in strong support. 9 in 10 believe aquaculture can help strengthen working waterfronts and diversify coastal and rural economies.
Research shows that the more Mainers know about aquaculture, the more they support it and want to see more farmed seafood from Maine. Aquaculture in Maine is not without its challenges, however. Timely and predictable regulatory decisions on aquaculture leases can give Maine sea farmers more clarity for their business planning and long-term operations success. And, as Maine’s coastline is impacted by climate change and changing home ownership patterns, aquaculture can partner with wild-caught fisheries to strengthen working waterfronts and address water quality challenges.
Maine’s future depends on our seafood economy, which is about more than what’s on your plate: it’s about the people who produced it.
As Maine’s aquaculture sector grows, here are some suggestions to become involved in advancing the potential of Maine farmed seafood:
- Learn more about the MFSC and its mission by visiting mainefarmedseafoodcoalition.org.
- Follow “Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition” on Facebook.
- Contact the MFSC via email at: [email protected]
- Ask your local officials to support responsible aquaculture practices.
- Support your local sea farmers by asking for and buying Maine farmed seafood.
