Aquaculture 2025

March 6 - 10, 2025

New Orleans, Louisiana USA

Add To Calendar 09/03/2025 14:30:0009/03/2025 14:50:00America/ChicagoAquaculture 2025PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF AQUACULTURE IN MAINESalon CThe World Aquaculture Societyjohnc@was.orgfalseDD/MM/YYYYanrl65yqlzh3g1q0dme13067

PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF AQUACULTURE IN MAINE

Emily Whitmore*, Anne Langston Noll, Christopher Davis, Thomas Safford, Lawrence Hamilton

 

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

193 Clarks Cove Rd

Walpole, Maine 04573

ewhitmore@maineaquaculture.org

 



Public opposition to aquaculture siting has become a significant barrier to growth in Maine, creating delays and unanticipated costs that are especially onerous for beginning farmers. Coupled with this, media coverage of contentious application processes calls into question whether aquaculture has a public perception problem–a problem noted by researchers in studies around the globe. As a result, researchers have put much effort into better understanding public perceptions of aquaculture. Studies have explored what values predict support, what messages are most effective in creating positive perceptions, how people seek out information on aquaculture, and who the most trusted messengers are. Extending this work to the US state of Maine, we conducted a state-wide survey exploring residents’ perceptions regarding aquaculture, including concerns and perceived benefits, along with related values. Despite some negative coverage in the press, our survey found that Maine residents overall are relatively positive about aquaculture development–particularly with regard to shellfish and seaweed farming. Interestingly, this sentiment does not vary by demographic characteristics or coastal vs. inland residency. Instead, predictors of positive perceptions are value-related factors including an individual’s coastal development priorities, concerns over the growth and size of sea farms, belief that aquaculture provides new opportunities for fishermen and coastal communities, and trust in aquaculture farmers for information on aquaculture.