Maintaining the health of our local fisheries is essential to keep the booming fishing industry on the coast of Maine alive.

OFFs (offshore fish farming) are industrial fish factories where finfish like yellowtails and salmon are raised to be eaten in massive quantities. This method is extremely harmful to the environment and leads to the creation of “dead zones,” where chemicals and fish waste are released into the ocean.

Not only is this detrimental to the ecosystem, but it puts local fishermen who rely on healthy waters for their livelihood at risk.

Countries like Canada and Denmark have already started moving away from this practice, and the United States could be next in line to eliminate this problem from our oceans.

In May 2020, the Trump administration put Executive Order 13921 into effect, expanding the OFF industry. With the help of Mainers, we can overturn this order and support our locals.

Jack LaCasse, Lewiston