Maine Aquaculture Association

Our annual public opinion poll results show that, year after year, public support for aquaculture among Mainers stays strong. Swipe through to see just how strong that support is! It is clear that a majority of Mainers believe in aquaculture as a valuable addition to Maine’s economy, coastal communities, and our local food system. Results also show that familiarity with the industry correlates with higher support, demonstrating the value of education and outreach. The Critical Insights on Maine tracking survey, conducted by Digital Research, Inc., is a long-standing public opinion poll of registered Maine voters. The Fall 2024 survey, with 604 participants via phone and online, reflects Maine's voting population. Results on the Maine aquaculture sector, based on proprietary questions, have a ±4.0% margin of error at a 95% confidence level. We're grateful to FocusMaine for sponsoring this round of polling.

We are so proud of the team at American Unagi for taking home the Best New Foodservice Product award at this year's Boston Seafood Show! Sara is a leader of aquaculture innovation and recognition of her company's accomplishments is much-deserved. Maine aquaculture continues to lead the way! #farmedseafood #eel #maineaquaculture

Today, CEI stood in solidarity with partners Maine Aquaculture Association, FocusMaine, Island Institute, and WWF to launch the Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition. Together, we're working to support sustainable aquaculture and celebrate the incredible farmed seafood products Maine offers- including 600,000 pounds a year of farmed mussels from Bangs Island Mussels! As Nicholas Branchina, our Director Fisheries and Aquaculture, emphasized today: "These marine farmers are working in concert with and not against existing commercial fishers in the working waterfronts up and down the Maine coast. Their operations and seafood production are integrated into the total value chain of all Maine seafood, contributing to protecting our working wharves, processing, storage facilities, transportation, a total supply chain that creates jobs beyond the farms." It's time for Maine to embrace farmed seafood with the same pride we have for our iconic lobsters, blueberries, and potatoes! Thank you, Spectrum News for covering this today. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRS5KdTM

Today, we're proud to announce the launch of the Maine Farmed Seafood Coalition, of which we are a founding member. This group was born out of a need to coordinate our efforts and expertise to tell the story of Maine's aquaculture sector, unify under the common goal of promoting local seafood, and address some of the forces holding the sector back. We're delighted to be joined by our colleagues at FocusMaine, WWF, CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.), and the Island Institute in this initiative and are looking forward to what we can accomplish together. #supportmaineseafood #maineaquaculture #farmedseafood

We are so grateful to have received $70,000 in funding to support our Aquaculture Apprenitceship Program, which provides opportunities to Mainers and individuals from across the country to pursue careers in aquaculture. Thank you to the Acme Smoked Fish Corp for selecting us and recognizing the value of workforce development in our sector! Without support like this, the apprenticeship would not be possible. Gulf of Maine Research Institute Maine Department of Labor Southern Maine Community College

"We owe it to the youth of Maine to have an honest conversation about aquaculture. For some, that means speaking up for the first time about our shared future and their role in it." Thank you Benjamin Ford of Archipelago Law for this insightful article about the realities of organized aquaculture opposition. Misinformation and fear-mongering are drowning out the real story: aquaculture is helping Maine’s coastal communities stay on the water, create jobs, and adapt to change. #aquaculture #maine #maineseafood #aquaculturejobs #aquaculturecareers

Take advantage of a great opportunity to dip your toe into aquaculture! The Maine Career Catalyst Aquaculture Pioneers Program is now accepting applications for 17 positions on Maine sea farms up and down the coast, offering a variety of experiences. Apply now at https://lnkd.in/ecFWs_QK!

Applications for the 2025 Aquaculture Apprenticeship Cohort are now open! In collaboration with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Maine Department of Labor, the?Maine Shellfish and Seaweed registered apprenticeship?program?is a?minimum?1-year commitment?to working a?full-time, year-round, on-farm job?from April to April.?Apprentices will complete 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training under the guidance and mentorship of an experienced business owner and/or employee.?In addition, apprentices will complete?144 hours of coursework and training?through Southern Maine Community College along with supplementary experiences. For more information and to apply, visit the link below. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on Friday, January 31st.

Read about how Bangs Island Mussels is leading the charge with commercial integrated multi-tropic aquaculture, growing three species at the same time and improving water quality in the process #aquacultureinnovation #IMTA #maineaquaculture

We are pleased to announce that applications are open for the?Aquaculture Experiential Opportunities for Undergraduate Students?(AquEOUS) Fellowship, an USDA Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU) at the University of Maine's?Wabanaki Center?and?Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI)?and in collaboration with?Wabanaki Youth in Science. This unique fellowship offers undergraduate students from around the nation an opportunity to use indigenous science and STEM concepts to solve real-world problems in aquaculture at the University of Maine’s world class aquaculture facilities. Mentorship will be provided by interdisciplinary faculty and indigenous knowledge keepers. Through this paid fellowship, students will have an array of research foci from which to choose. They will work on hands-on projects using concepts learned from their mentors as well as seminars, field trips, and workshops addressing indigenous knowledge, applied aquaculture science and science communications. Room and board are provided at the?Darling Marine Center?in Walpole, ME for 10 weeks. We invite students and faculty to learn more about the?Aquaculture Experiential Opportunities for Undergraduate Students?(AquEOUS) Fellowship and apply by?February 15th.?Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested in this unique program. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at?[email protected]. Link to AquEOUS application page:?https://lnkd.in/e3p-2SQx