Your Guide To Local Seafood

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is committed to growing the economic and ecological sustainability of regional seafood. We work with industry leaders across the supply chain to empower consumers to find and buy Gulf of Maine seafood because it’s a win-win-win: choosing local supports healthy coastal communities, a healthy ocean ecosystem, and healthy people.

Explore the map of local restaurants and retailers that are part of our Gulf of Maine Tastemakers program – businesses that have committed to sourcing at least 35% local seafood by 2025. By supporting these businesses and choosing local seafood options, know you are supporting fishermen, sea farmers, and coastal communities.

More Ways To Support Local Seafood

Not able to stop by a Gulf of Maine Tastemaker? No problem! There are several ways you can support local seafood on your own.

1. Choose to eat more seafood.

Eating more seafood is the first and most powerful step! Each of us eating a little more seafood means restaurants and grocery stores can diversify the seafood they sell and offer more of it.

💡Did You Know?
The average American eats about 19 pounds of seafood per year compared to roughly 90 pounds of chicken.

2. Ask for local seafood options at the grocery store or restaurant.

It really does make a difference when businesses hear their customers say that they are interested in seeing local seafood offered.

💡 Did You Know?
In the US, it’s estimated that we import between 70–90% of the seafood sold in this country.

3. Cook seafood at home.

Seafood makes for a healthy meal and is quick to prepare. Maybe you usually eat shellfish only when you go out to eat; try cooking mussels, oysters, or lobster at home. Check out some of our tips for cooking seafood at home here.

There are so many great seafood cookbooks out there. Pick your favorite and use it to cook something local! Here are some staff favorites:

• Simmering the Sea from Sarah Schumann, Kate Masury, and Marie-Joelle Rochet at Eating with the Ecosystem.
• The Joy of Seafood (or other seafood cookbooks) from Barton Seaver.
• How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman has a great section on cooking fish that includes many simple methods for local species from New England.
• Catch - A Maine Seafood Cookbook from the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.

💡 Did You Know?
Fresh seafood can be frozen to relieve the pressure of using it immediately while maintaining its quality and health benefits!

4. Try something new!

Don't be afraid to switch it up! Many local fish such as hake, pollock, and plaice, are great substitutes in any white fish recipe.

Looking for inspiration for your next meal? Try out something from this list of species that are verified Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested, meaning the Gulf of Maine fishery or farm they hail from is managed in a way that contributes to the long-term health of the resource.

Please note that this list is dynamic – we are always working to add more species to it as we verify them, as many species from the Gulf of Maine are responsibly harvested.