Markets & Economic Development Community Leadership Downeast Groundfish Initiative Hatchery Outreach and Education

The Northeast Coastal Communities Groundfish Sector is a vehicle to pursue area management goals with the current framework of catch shares. Recent federal regulations have shifted the groundfish industry from a Days-at-Sea to a poundage-based (quota) regulatory approach.

Inaugural meeting of Northeast Coastal Communities Sector, Fishermen’s Forum, Samoset, March 2010

Nineteen sectors now serve as mechanisms for allocating fishing rights and restricting fishing within specified limits. Sectors are not defined by geography and we have formed the Northeast Coastal Communities Sector in partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Association that shares our challenges, goals and values.

It will allow participating eastern Maine fishermen to collectively manage their fishing within the eastern Maine area and collectively advocate for the rebuilding of the local groundfish stocks in the 8970 square mile area where currently no groundfish fishing taking place – more than half the area of the Gulf of Maine. This activity is supported by our fishermen’s leadership training program, Community Fisheries Action Roundtable (CFAR).