The country’s first aquaculture apprenticeship program is launching in Maine in the spring of 2023. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Aquaculture Association, EducateMaine , Southern Maine Community College, and the Maine Department of Labor worked together to create a 2,000-hour shellfish and seaweed apprenticeship program that provides on-the-job training and experience. Apprentices will serve as employees on host farms, where they will follow a schedule of work, recording specified numbers of hours in specific categories based on the Maine Aquaculture Occupational Standards. Apprentices will then take 144 credit hours of coursework through Southern Maine Community College.
The presentation will overview the creation, rollout, and future of the Maine aquaculture apprenticeship program, including lessons learned.