‘We fish culturists stretch ourselves to stock over 800 Maine water bodies with 1 million trout and landlocked salmon’

MSEA-SEIU Member Jessie Kuester, who works as a Fish Culturist at Grand Lake Stream for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, provided the testimony below Feb. 26 on his own time to the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee in support of closing the state employee pay gap:

Senator Rotundo, Representative Gattine, members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee, Senator Baldacci, Representative Roberts, members of the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee. I am Jessie Kuester. I work as a Fish Culturist at Grand Lake Stream for the Department of IF&W. I am here on my own time to request that these committees work to fix the ongoing recruitment and retention problems, due to low wages for state employees in LD210, the Biennial Budget.

Do you know where stocked fish throughout the State of Maine come from? Our native fish populations thrive thanks to hardworking Fish Culturists across 8 Inland Fisheries & Wildlife facilities. With less than 30 staff, we spawn, raise, and stock the fish that anglers love to catch year-round. At present there is an issue with recruitment and retention in the hatchery division, this will continue with starting wages at $17.69/hr, less than $37,000 per year. The current wage and salaries of hatchery employees require a substantial increase.

We Fish Culturists stretch ourselves to stock over 800 Maine water bodies with one million Trout and Landlocked Salmon. Imagine if we couldn’t do this work. No more top-tier fishing reputation for Maine. The financial ramifications would include decreased fishing license sales, decreased recreational opportunities, lower tourism numbers, and would have a crippling effect on Maine’s recreation economy. Our work involves raising fish that contributes to over $300 million in annual revenue to Maine’s economy.

Consider the extensive responsibility we have. We raise fish in all stages of their life, stock fish throughout Maine waters, administer daily maintenance of facilities, we have required onsite housing, provide educational tours and classroom events, and more. Yet, we are punished with low wages that have not seen appropriate increases. Our roles are essential for the IF&W to succeed in their natural resource goals. We also have a direct impact to other IF&W employee’s roles-namely fisheries biologists and game wardens.

On February 3rd, IF&W Director Latti testified before the IF&W Committee and described our responsibilities as “important for the Department’s fisheries management as well as the economy, and many tasks require extended workdays to maintain current production and public expectations.” In my job interview for this job, I was told I’d need a second income because the fish culturist salary was so low.

In order for IF&W to retain knowledgeable, experienced staff, and to fill chronically vacant positions with qualified hires, IF&W must pay a living wage, and you can help by protecting and expanding the Executive Branch personnel services budget. We’ve been underpaid for too long for the value we bring to the State of Maine, our anglers, our tourists, and the economy. We call on you for your help in working to finally to close the pay gap.