Popular Fishermen's Benefit Dinner Moves to Tenants Harbor

The fourth annual Midcoast Fishermen's Association (MFA) Benefit Dinner will be held on Saturday, August 8^th beginning at 4:00 p.m. at its new location in the Saint George town office in Tenants Harbor.  Back by popular demand, Doug Anderson and his helpers will cook up a delicious haddock dinner that includes a baked, stuffed fillet drizzled with Newburg sauce, salad, homemade biscuits, dessert and a beverage.  Donations given at the door will help the MFA continue its work to restore groundfish populations and sustain fishing communities along the coast of Maine.

All of the fresh seafood for this event is donated by local fishermen, and the desserts are contributed by some of the community's best bakers.  "This has become a great event for us, because it's helped spread the word about our mission," said Glen Libby, the MFA's president.  "People who come to the dinner get a better understanding of why it's so important to keep these fishing traditions alive, and how much this way of life has contributed to Maine's maritime heritage and the local economy." 

Robert Snyder, vice-president of programs at the Island Institute, appreciates how much has happened since he and his organization began working with the MFA in 2007. "There's a lot of work left to do to bring back groundfish stocks, but these guys have done a tremendous job of raising awareness all along the coast and in the greater New England region. Through a separate entity, the Midcoast Fishermen's Cooperative, there are now 300 people signed up for the state's first community-supported fishery (CSF), and dozens of restaurants that are ordering Port Clyde Fresh Catch fish every week.  It's pretty amazing what's been accomplished in just a couple of years."

For more information about the Midcoast Fishermen's Association, please visit its website, www.midcoastfishermen.org.  To learn about Maine's first CSF, please visit the Port Clyde Fresh Catch website, www.portclydefreshcatch.com.