The Maine Aquaculture Hub is a network for strengthening aquaculture in Maine. It was founded in 2019 by six organizations that make up the Steering Committee: Maine Sea Grant, Maine Aquaculture Association, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Maine’s seafood industry is a cornerstone of our state’s economy and identity. Valued at more than half a billion dollars, the industry supports working waterfronts, coastal communities, and families. While the Gulf of Maine is a productive marine habitat, it is also one of the most quickly changing. Rapid development along the coast, impacts from climate change, and overharvesting are putting stress on wild caught fisheries , meanwhile appetite for fish protein is on the rise. A quaculture plays a crucial role in supporting and fortifying seafood systems.
To address barriers to aquaculture in Maine and sustainably build the sector, the Hub is:
1. Building a 10-year Roadmap for aquaculture in the state
2. Training new and startup sea farmers through the Aquaculture in Shared Waters program
3. Funding projects that will address barriers to the industry at large
In developing the 10-year aquaculture roadmap, the Maine Aquaculture Hub held ten Focus Group meetings with a variety of stakeholders, in addition to numerous one-on-one phone calls. U ltimately 140 individuals representing 92 organizations provided feedback. Input was synthesized and a plan created that features four overarching goals, each with a number of specific action items as well as responsible organizations and resources needed to achieve them.
In building on the existing Aq uaculture in Shared Waters training program, a second level of the course was developed, to assist new farmers in getting past the startup phase. That pilot program was turned into a workshop series for the winter of 2021-22, to reach beyond aquaculture producers and build connections needed to strengthen the sector.
As a result of its first call for proposals, the Maine Aquaculture Hub funded five industry-led projects to address barriers to aquaculture in the state. For the second round of funding, awarded proposals will be announced in early 2022.
Looking ahead, partner organizations of the Hub are being purposeful about the future of the described activities relative to the needs of the sector in the State. As aquaculture develops in Maine, there is opportunity and a responsibility to collaborate for a sustainable industry.