The Portland Fish Exchange’s general manager sees a tough year ahead with fewer vessels in the fleet, more restrictions on fishing areas and a labor crunch tightening crews.
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Jodie York, general manager of the Portland Fish Exchange, expects fish landings to remain weak with fewer fishing vessels in the fleet in Maine and more restrictions on fishing areas. Add to that a pandemic and reduced demand from restaurants and the outlook for the fishing industry and a key component of Maine’s coastal economy is grim.
“There’s the pandemic, there’s fewer fishermen in the fleet, management restrictions on where they can fish, they’re unable to find crew. This coming year could look very much like 2021 with landings down significantly from pre-pandemic levels,” says York, who started as GM in March 2021. “Right now, landings are the lowest they’ve ever been.”
Landings through the end of November were roughly 500,000 pounds, compared with pre-pandemic landings of about 2 million to 2.5 million pounds, York says.
“There’s always a struggle in fishing. Landings are down in general throughout New England and what’s coming through the door at the Fish Exchange,” York says.
The ongoing pandemic will continue to weigh on the fishing community, she says.
“We don’t know about the pandemic and what is in store. New York shutting down again would have a huge impact on the community. It would impact demand and close a key market,” York says.
The Portland Fish Exchange itself is facing a review on how it can best serve its constituents.
“We have to serve the needs of the current fishing community,” York says. “Since the Fish Exchange began in 1986, fishing has changed dramatically.”
“Vessels’ ability to find a crew is really challenging. The fishing fleet is an aging population. There’s not a lot of recruits. Staffing is going to be a continued struggle. It’s one of the biggest challenges.”
“For fishing overall, people get into it because their families were involved. The reduction in the number of boats going out means less people are passing down the tradition. It’s very hard work. It’s a tough lifestyle. Vessels want to take someone with experience and that’s harder and harder to find,” York says.
