The maine coast fishermens association (mfca) proposes to create three micro-learning videos that help young fishermen learn about physical health, mental health, and career resilience

The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association (MCFA) received a $121,439 Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417). The funding will be used to create three micro-learning videos that educate young fishermen in Maine about physical health, mental health, and career resilience. These topics are often underemphasized in technical training programs. The videos will feature relatable on-screen personalities and concise messaging to raise awareness among young fishermen about these important career development themes. The project will also establish an online knowledge hub to provide young fishermen with self-directed learning resources and connections to relevant experts and training programs. This initiative aims to help young fishermen in Maine gain a more comprehensive view of career preparation beyond just technical skills, while also providing a modular resource that current and emerging training programs can incorporate nationally. The award period spans from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026.

These themes are often missing technical skill-building and operational training programs. Videos will be filmed in maine, which, due to the unique lobster apprenticeship model, has one of the largest populations of young fishermen in the nation, but also designed to be broadly applicable. Videos will be intentionally brief (5-10 minutes) and feature relatable on-screen personalities and digestible messaging to raise consciousness that each theme is one that young fishermen need to think about as part of their career planning but without resorting to lengthy lectures. The project will also create a complementary online knowledge hub designed to support young fishermen to pursue a mix of self-directed learning to answer questions that may emerge as they watch the videos, as well as point them to trusted experts and training programs for deeper learning. The project team will curate an initial mix of best-in-class resources, as well as experiment with options to allow young fishermen to continue to add to the knowledge hub with questions and recommendations based on their own pathways and learning experiences. Mcfa expects to achieve two important outcomes. First, young fishermen in maine will gain a more comprehensive view of career preparation than afforded by technical training programs. Second, current and emerging training programs, locally and nationally will have a modular resource they can incorporate to address themes of physical health, mental health and, career resilience. Project partners include the northeast occupational health center, knack factory, and nami-maine.