No one has a bigger stake in sustaining healthy fisheries than Maine’s community-based fishermen. Challenges abound, but there is also hope when we focus on solutions.

For generations, the groundfish fishery sustained Maine’s coastal communities, with species like cod, haddock and flounder at the heart of our seafood economy. But these species have declined, markets have changed, and where there were once hundreds of boats actively participating in this fishery, today, only handfuls remain. So, how did we get here?

As the Gulf of Maine has warmed — faster than nearly any other body of water on Earth — ecosystems have changed, and our fish stocks are shifting where and when and how they exist in our coastal waters. At the same time, traditional methods for assessing fish populations struggle to keep up with these changes. Government surveys rely on techniques that work well when stocks are abundant but struggle to detect the full picture when populations are low or concentrated in specific areas, as cod stocks are now.

Gaps in data are growing more significant as surveys are delayed or discontinued and inshore areas are inaccessible to large survey boats. The persistent lag between when information is gathered and when it can be acted upon means failures to detect changes in time to prevent drastic management corrections. The recent 80% cut to the haddock allowable catch is a prime example.

There was such a large disconnect between what the fishermen were seeing (and catching) and what our best available science was showing that the secretary of commerce approved an emergency action to minimize the required cut in allowable catch — a disconnect that further complicates management decisions and undermines trust in science, data and management.

Compounding this, cod and haddock often appear alongside other more abundant species such as flounder and pollock. Even incidental catches of these so-called “choke species” can shut down fishing operations entirely. This is not just a challenge for scientists or policymakers; it’s an existential threat to coastal communities and the fishing industry that have long defined our region.

To adapt to this new reality, we need to recognize that we have a system that is in the process of breaking and adopt innovative approaches that draw on the expertise of both scientists and fishermen to address a growing problem. By working together, we can better understand where and how fish populations are shifting and develop strategies to sustainably harvest thriving species, while protecting those in decline. This collaboration is essential to ensure fishing remains a vital part of Maine’s coastal economy and heritage.

Collaborative research in action

Collaborative research is not a new idea. Programs that combine scientific rigor with local knowledge have already demonstrated their potential. Innovative gear designs, like the Ultra-Low Opening Trawl, have helped fishermen avoid vulnerable species like cod while still catching healthy ones like flounder. Similarly, electronic monitoring data collection, tagging programs, acoustic surveys and other joint efforts have yielded important scientific information and improved ecological, management and economic outcomes.

Fishermen bring unparalleled expertise to these efforts. They know the waters better than anyone and can often identify shifts in fish behavior or distribution before scientists do. Fishermen have opportunities to collect data more frequently and over a wider area than is currently practical for discrete research projects or government surveys. Pairing this on-the-water capacity and practical knowledge with robust scientific methods produces data that is both more accurate and more actionable.

Collaborative surveys can help provide timely insights to ensure we sustain abundant populations like pollock and flounder can empower fishermen to have a say in both science and management, and provide more stability for long-term stewardship leading to more stable markets. Fishermen are also already collecting temperature and other environmental information in the course of their normal fishing operations that could accelerate scientists’ ability to forecast ocean changes.

Unfortunately, funding for collaborative research has dwindled, leaving fewer opportunities for industry-driven innovation. Further investment in this model is a necessity if we are to realize its many benefits.

A vision for the future

We envision a future where the region’s ecosystems, communities, economy and food system flourish together. Achieving this future requires a shift in how we think about fisheries management. Instead of focusing on scarcity — on what we’ve lost — we can focus on abundance and innovation. While there will certainly be negative impacts to climate change, there are also opportunities that will become available.

The story of the warming of the Gulf of Maine must also be balanced with an understanding that the diversity in habitat, species composition and rocky coastline will also help make this ecosystem more resilient, but we will need more data, not less, to understand where and when those opportunities present themselves. Working together, there is a path forward to harvest what’s thriving, protect what’s struggling and fully bring seafood into our local food system.

Reinvesting in collaborative research recognizes fishermen as ocean stewards. This is not just about rebuilding fish stocks. It’s about rebuilding hope and trust in our science and management. Fishermen, scientists, policymakers and community members all have a role to play in ensuring our ocean and our fishing communities not just survive but thrive.

The path ahead

The Gulf of Maine is a dynamic and ever-changing ecosystem. That change can feel daunting, but it also offers us a chance to build something new. Through collaborative research, we can create solutions that are forward-thinking, practical and rooted in the values of our coastal communities.

The challenges we face demand creativity, cooperation and commitment. If we embrace these principles, we can look to the future with optimism and confidence, knowing that the Gulf of Maine will continue to sustain thriving fishing communities for generations to come.