WRITTEN BY WANDA CURTIS

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has trained 14 new employees for Maine’s aquaculture industry since 2018. The employees completed the GMRI Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program and are now employed by aquaculture businesses across Maine in shellfish and seaweed operations, according to Aquaculture Program Manager Carissa Maurin. Two more cohorts are currently enrolled in the program, she said.

“Aquaculture is one of Maine’s fastest-growing food production sectors and plays an important role in supporting working waterfronts, coastal communities, and the state’s blue economy,” Maurin said. “As the industry grows, employers need a skilled workforce to meet increasing demand.”


Aquaculture apprentices participate in hands-on training aboard a boat through the
Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program.

Building a Strong, Skilled Workforce

The goal of the apprenticeship program, Maurin said, is to build a strong, skilled workforce that supports the continued growth of Maine’s aquaculture industry. She said GMRI wants to increase awareness of aquaculture careers among students, people changing careers, veterans, and individuals from communities that historically have had limited access to these opportunities.

GMRI also wants to make aquaculture careers more accessible by creating clear pathways into the industry and assisting employers with recruiting, training, and retaining employees, she said. The apprenticeship program is one clear pathway into the aquaculture industry.

“The Maine Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program is a Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship that provides paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction for individuals interested in careers in Maine’s aquaculture industry,” Maurin said. “The program is designed to help apprentices develop the technical knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies needed to succeed while earning a paycheck.”

According to Maurin, apprentices must complete 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training and 144 hours of related technical instruction, or RTI. The instruction combines classroom learning with hands-on field experiences to reinforce skills learned on the job. She said the 144 hours of RTI provide the scientific knowledge and technical foundation behind the work apprentices perform on the farm.

“The RTI includes an intensive aquaculture boot camp covering topics such as aquaculture in Maine, first aid and CPR, water quality, regulations, biosecurity, record-keeping, vessel safety, and basic nautical skills,” Maurin said. “Apprentices also participate in shellfish and seaweed aquaculture courses that explore species biology, hatchery production, husbandry practices, equipment, harvesting, processing, and emerging research and technology.”

Entry Requirements

According to the Maine Aquaculture Association, applicants for the apprenticeship program must meet the following requirements. See maineaqua.org for more information. 

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Must have a high school diploma or the equivalent
  • Must be able to lift 50 pounds and be comfortable working on boats and floating structures
  • Must have a strong work ethic, mechanical aptitude, and problem-solving ability
  • Must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the apprenticeship program, with or without reasonable accommodations, and without posing a threat to their own health and safety or that of others

For information about applying for the apprenticeship program, see the Maine Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program page on the Maine Aquaculture Association website.

An Investment in Maine’s Future

“The apprenticeship program is more than workforce training; it is an investment in Maine’s future,” Maurin said. “By bringing together employers, educators, and workforce partners, we’re helping create sustainable career pathways while ensuring that Maine’s aquaculture industry has the skilled workforce it needs to continue growing responsibly.”