Fishermen’s Benefit Dinner Nets Record Turnout

The Midcoast Fisherman’s Association’s third annual benefit dinner on Saturday, August 9^th drew almost 400 hungry diners to the Martinsville Grange for a meal that showcased the freshness and quality of Port Clyde Fresh Catch seafood.   The  more than $4,000.00 raised will support the organization’s mission of identifying and fostering ways to restore Maine’s groundfish fishery and to sustain fishing communities along the coast for future generations.

Members of the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association represent the last fleet of groundfishermen still in existence between Portland and the Canadian border. They fish in an environmentally conscious manner as a means of preserving fish stocks and the small coastal towns and villages that depend on fishing for their survival.  Their methods of ensuring freshness and high quality paid off for those who made their way down the St. George peninsula for the dinner, which started with bacon-wrapped scallops and Maine shrimp appetizers, followed by fresh haddock in Maine-shrimp Newburg sauce, salad, potatoes and homemade biscuits, and ended with a dazzling array of desserts made by local volunteers.

Among the many enthusiastic attendees was Franco Boi of Saint George, Maine, who complimented the chefs and the fishermen, saying, “To me, it was truly excellent. I could taste the freshness of the fish in the meal.” Two days after the dinner, he requested information on where to buy Port Clyde Fresh Catch seafood locally.   In addition to the Cod End market in Tenants Harbor – for those who like to cook their own fish – discerning diners who want to support sustainable fisheries management can find Port Clyde Fresh Catch in fine restaurants from St. George to Acadia by visiting www.portclydefreshcatch.com.  More information about the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association is available at www.midcoastfishermen.org.