Join us in our mission to give back 1% to protect the men and women of our working waterfront.

1% for the fishermen is a movement inspiring businesses and individuals to stand behind the men and women of our working waterfronts. Our goal is to support local organizations and their current programs through annual membership donations of 1%. We aim to build off our expanding network and experiences in the fishing community to not only advise on giving strategies but bring businesses together to strengthen our ability to protect our fishermen and their way of life. Our current focus is the Gulf of Maine. Building pressures on the industry continue to threaten our fishing families and their coastal communities.

Getting onboard is simple. Here’s how it works!

Business Members

• Businesses that join can commit by giving through a variety of avenues.

  • Whole company: 1% annual sales to our approved nonprofit partners currently working to protect our waterfronts.

  • Products: 1% annual sales of a product or menu item aligning with our mission.

• Members have the freedom of general fund giving or earmarking funds to select programs protecting your coastal communities.

  Individual Members

• 1% for the fishermen creates a way for anyone to become part of the movement and help make a difference. It’s an opportunity for individuals who respect and value our fishing heritage and way of life, to donate 1% of their salary to our approved partners and/or volunteer support to keep this way of life alive.

  Nonprofit Partners

• The 1% for the fishermen model comes to fruition through strategic partnerships that form between our members and the nonprofit organizations. Our business and individual members will engage directly with the nonprofit partners, providing donations and other forms of promotional support. Successful partnerships will provide 1% for long-term support for our fishing communities in order to maintain the sustainable reputation they’ve built over generations.

  Current Partners and their programs

  Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association

  We strive to ensure that fishermen have the community infrastructure and environmental resources to maintain Maine's coastal cultural identity and sustain vibrant working waterfronts for this and future generations of Maine fishermen.

  1. Maine’s working Waterfront -A healthy working waterfront is integral to a fishermen’s safety and success at sea and losing the working waterfront would be a huge loss to Maine’s economy and way of life. Planning and development must prioritize the fishing industry if Maine wants to continue to be the way life should be.

  2. Fisheries Policy -MCFA works with policymakers at the local, state, regional, and federal levels, including those at the Maine Department of Marine Resources, New England Fisheries Management Council, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and elected state and federal representatives.

  3. Maine Coast Fisheries Trust & Permit Bank -MCFA has partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the Island Institute to help protect access for Maine's community-based fleet through the creation of a permit banking program. The goal of this initiative is to keep groundfish permits from leaving the state and bring allocation, and fishing opportunity, back to Maine.

  4. Electronic Monitoring - Finding ways to get cost effective monitoring on the water and fishermen's data to scientists.

     Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance & Maine Lobsterman’s Association

     The Maine lobster industry’s heritage and stewardship practices serve as a model for sustainable fisheries around the world. The Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance serves to educate the public about Maine’s lobstering heritage, support scientific research to further the industry’s conservation ethic and stewardship of ocean resources, and to provide charity to distressed fishing families.

     1. Maine Lobsterman’s Relief Fund -These funds are used to benefit the distressed families and children of commercial lobstermen throughout Maine in times of need.

     2. Save Maine Lobsterman’s Fund -The MLA is engaged in a four-prong strategy to Save Maine Lobstermen and right whales. Business and individual members can general fund or earmark their donations to any of the four prongs.

        1. Legal and Policy -The MLA is suing the federal government to stop the 10-year whale plan that will decimate Maine’s lobster industry. MLA has asked the court to fix the plan using accurate science so that we can save right whales without sacrificing the lobster fishery.

        2. Science -The MLA is engaging with scientific experts to ensure that the most up to date, cutting-edge science is the basis of any right whale conservation plan. This includes use of state-of-the-art modelling and objective research that will guide effective management decisions.

        3. Conservation -The MLA is working with Maine lobstermen to continue efforts to develop innovative gear solutions that protect right whales and support the continuation of Maine’s lobstering heritage.

        4. Communications -MLA is building support to ensure the communityunderstands that Maine’s lobstering heritage is at risk and may disappear forever, erasing generations of locally owned and operated fishing businesses and the economic engine of Maine’s coastal communities.