Aquaculture & Maine Marine Living Resources 2024

By the numbers: an up close look at the growing aquaculture industry in Maine

WRITTEN BY JULIA BAYLY Aquaculture in Maine is a numbers game. It’s one that’s been running for the last 40 years and in that time the industry has evolved and adapted to changes in the environment, economics, and consumer demand. The history of the industry goes…

4-H programs bring aquaculture to life for students in Maine

WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL SANDS Aquaculture is big business in Maine, but it’s not just the grownups who are interested in it. Through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 4-H students get to learn about and experience aquaculture first-hand in award-winning programs. Carla Scocchi is a 4-H…

Three ways to grill your seafood this autumn

WRITTEN BY SARAH WALKER CARON When I was a little girl, I used to love watching my grandfather start our charcoal grill. The heat from the coals would waft through the air, reminding me of grilled foods to come. These days I am a gas grill…

Sharing their stories – Maine Coast Harvest documentary film series spotlights a variety of the state’s sea farmers

WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE BOUCHARD Karen Cooper’s family roots go deep in Maine’s fishing and boating industry. Brought up in lobster fishing and a lobster fisher herself, when she decided she wanted to start a kelp farm, she turned to her father Foy Brown — an institution…

Local seafood: in our backyard

COURTESY OF MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION In Maine, we are incredibly fortunate to have access to high-quality, locally grown or caught food from land AND the sea. Our state is home to many extraordinary farms that provide us with delicious, sustainably-grown food. Most people are familiar with…

Propelling Maine’s economy through locally grown food

COURTESY OF FOCUSMAINE The working waterfront has supported Maine families for generations. While our population has grown, so too has innovation in seafood production that preserves the pride and livelihoods of one of Maine’s most important heritage industries. Farmed seafood improves the environment and mitigates climate…

Salmon aquaculture: ‘woven into the fabric’ of Maine’s seafood economy

COURTESY OF COOKE USA It’s been 42 years since the first commercial Atlantic salmon farms in Maine were founded in waters leased by the State of Maine in Cobscook Bay just off Eastport’s Moose Island. In that time, salmon aquaculture has evolved and modernized tremendously. Today,…

Diving into aquaculture – Washington County Community College leads the way with a new two-year college program

COURTESY OF MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER The first and only 2-year aquaculture degree program in the state of Maine is currently accepting applications for students to start in September after several years of collaboration between the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and Washington County Community College (WCCC).…

Aquaculture makes a splash Downeast!

COURTESY OF MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) and partners have been awarded $484,447 by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to catalyze aquaculture in Washington County. The grant is matched with a further $140,912 investment, and will support a grassroots program with…

Seaweed in the spotlight

COURTESY OF MAINE SEA GRANT Maine is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and versatile seaweeds, with over 200 species playing a critical role in supporting ocean health. Seaweeds are also a valuable cultural and culinary resource used in nutrient-rich foods, organic fertilizers, health…

Global insights, local impact: technology transfer revolutionizing Maine’s aquaculture industry

COURTESY OF CEI Co-authored by Hugh Cowperthwaite, Senior Program Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture at CEI & Dana Morse, Senior Extension Program Manager, Aquaculture Lead Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Extension Darling Marine Center Maine’s wild fisheries and its burgeoning aquaculture sector are…

Choose a career in mariculture

COURTESY OF MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY Pursuing a career in Maine’s mariculture industry is an excellent choice due to the state’s abundant natural resources and commitment to sustainable practices. Maine’s coastal waters are perfect for cultivating high-demand seafood such as shellfish and seaweed, which are increasingly sought…