As throughout the US, shellfish aquaculture is a fast-growing sector of Massachusetts’ economy, with the farming of oysters presenting the Commonwealth’s third most valuable marine product. The vast majority of aquaculture in the state occurs in nearshore waters, nestled in coastal communities with high property values that present multiple barriers to engaging the workforce needed to sustain the sector’s growth. In a pilot internship program, the MIT and WHOI Sea Grant programs partnered to seek pathways to overcome some of these barriers, providing the industry with eager and prepared farmhands, and supporting a conduit for often under-engaged communities to explore the professional opportunities that local aquaculture can provide.
The Aquaculture Internships for Massachusetts (AIM) program facilitated a five-week introductory program for eight Trainees recruited from throughout Massachusetts. With wraparound services (housing, transportation, stipends) provided, Trainees received basic training regarding aquaculture, safety training to encourage safe work experiences on farms, and weeks of hands-on exposure to multiple aquaculture-sector operations. From these Trainees, a select few were hired as 7-month interns for aquaculture operations, filling roles as varied as farmhand, municipal biologist, and full partner of a farm.
Many lessons were learned through this program as we aim to increasingly connect aquaculture-sector employers with communities of potential farmhands who seldom have the opportunity to explore aquaculture as a viable path. In this talk, we will outline the program’s structure, the successes, and – crucially – the pinch points that must be addressed if aquaculture internships and workforce development efforts are to be successful.