PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 7, 2026
Economist Christian Brayden of the Maine Aquaculture Association estimates that aquaculture leases in Maine do not typically sustain themselves financially until they grow to over five acres. In South Bristol an ordinance on aquaculture leases over one-half of an acre is up for a vote, and the residents will decide if the town moves forward with what is effectively an aquaculture ban. Nearby, Cushing is facing a similar vote on March 16. If the ordinances pass, profitable aquaculture businesses in these towns could end, affecting dozens of livelihoods and families. The Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition was founded in 2025 to act as a collective voice that tells the stories of real Maine sea farmers like Smokey and Sarah and to share information about the benefits of aquaculture to Maine. We firmly believe that supporting sea farmers is a path toward a more sustainable future for our working waterfront communities and Maine’s marine economy and culture. ~ Sebastian Belle and Andrea Cianchette Maker, Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition