News in Brief:
– Passamaquoddy Tribe has been awarded $4.3 million grant by the USDA to establish eel farm in Princeton, Maine.
– Partnership with American Unagi aims to create jobs, promote economic sustainability, and offer locally grown eels as an alternative to international markets.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township in Princeton, Maine, has secured a significant $4.3 million grant from the USDA to establish an eel-growing farm. This initiative aims to not only foster economic sustainability but also revive traditional harvesting practices in a modern context.
Funded through the agency’s Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing program, this grant is part of a broader effort to support tribal nations and promote sustainable food production.
The tribe’s has also partnered with American Unagi Inc., the sole US producer of American eel, in a bid to develop local alternatives to international markets.
The eel farm is poised to create jobs within the tribe and provide economic opportunities for local harvesters. By transitioning from wild harvesting to aquaculture, the project aims to stabilise incomes and strengthen community resilience.
Beyond economic benefits, the initiative promotes cultural preservation by integrating traditional knowledge with modern aquaculture techniques. It also seeks to meet the culinary needs of Asian American communities in New England through the production of culturally significant foods like kabayaki.
By cultivating market-size eels locally, sourced from Maine’s own lucrative fishery for baby eels (elvers), the initiative reduces reliance on exporting elvers to Asia. This move enhances food security and sustainability while bolstering Maine’s aquaculture industry.
