Aquaculture in Shared Waters

Aquaculture in Shared WatersAquaculture in Shared WatersAquaculture in Shared Waters
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Aquaculture in Shared Waters

Aquaculture in Shared WatersAquaculture in Shared WatersAquaculture in Shared Waters
Home
2023 Course
About
Contact
More
  • Home
  • 2023 Course
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • 2023 Course
  • About
  • Contact

About

Aquaculture in Shared Waters is a community-based training program that has helped hundreds of fishermen, farmers, and professionals start or improve their aquaculture businesses since the start of the program in 2013. Annual training focuses on the cultivation of commercially valuable species including oysters, mussels, scallops, and kelp. Courses are taught by leading industry, regulatory, and scientific experts and cover fundamental topics like site selection, permitting, animal husbandry, equipment, business planning, financing, marketing and more. In addition to learning the curriculum, participants expand their professional networks with fellow students and have access to individual meetings and business planning with instructors.

Learn to farm commercially-valuable species

OYSTERS

SCALLOPS

OYSTERS

MUSSELS

SCALLOPS

OYSTERS

SCALLOPS

SCALLOPS

SCALLOPS

KELP

SCALLOPS

SCALLOPS

Core curriculum

Permitting and Regulations

Site Selection and equipment

Site Selection and equipment

Discover how to lease or license an aquaculture site in Maine waters.  Discuss do's and don'ts with experts and guests speakers from Maine DMR.

    

Site Selection and equipment

Site Selection and equipment

Site Selection and equipment

Learn about key factors to consider in selecting a farm site (access, use, weather, biology) and get a hands-on look at aquaculture gear/equipment.

On-Farm operations

Site Selection and equipment

Biosecurity and public health

Dive into husbandry and best practices for shellfish and seaweed species, including seed sourcing, grow-out, harvesting, and processing.

Biosecurity and public health

business planning and financing

Biosecurity and public health

Explore critical aspects of keeping your farm and consumers safe, including shellfish handling, water quality, vibrio, biotoxins, diseases and more.

Supply chains and marketing

business planning and financing

business planning and financing

Determine how to sell and market your products. We cover marketing, sales, distribution, low-cost tactics for small farms, and licensing for dealers.

business planning and financing

business planning and financing

business planning and financing

Develop your aquaculture business plan. Learn from experts about writing a business plan, determining costs and income, and financing.


Program Instructors

Sebastian Belle

hugh cowperthwaite

Sebastian Belle

Executive Director, 

Maine Aquaculture Association

sebastian@maineaqua.org


Fundamentals of aquaculture, biosecurity and best practices. 

NICK branchina

hugh cowperthwaite

Sebastian Belle

Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Program. Coastal Enterprises Inc

nick.branchina@ceimaine.org


Marketing, branding, sales, and aquaculture business development.

hugh cowperthwaite

hugh cowperthwaite

hugh cowperthwaite

Senior Program Director, Fisheries & Aquaculture. Coastal Enterprises Inc

hugh.cowperthwaite@ceimaine.org


Lending, business counseling, technical assistance and scallops.

chris davis

hugh cowperthwaite

hugh cowperthwaite

Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

christopher.v.davis@gmail.com


Shellfish biology and husbandry, equipment and gear, new species.

anne langston noll

Expert guest speakers

anne langston noll

Project Director, Maine 

Aquaculture Innovation Center

annelangston72@gmail.com


Community relations and social license to operate in Maine.

dana morse

Expert guest speakers

anne langston noll

Senior Extension Program Manager - Aquaculture Lead, Maine Sea Grant

dana.morse@maine.edu


Cultivation of oysters, scallops, and other species, hands-on gear demo.

jaclyn robidoux

Expert guest speakers

Expert guest speakers

Marine Extension Associate, 

Maine Sea Grant

jaclyn.robidoux@maine.edu


Kelp farming, harvest and handling, post-harvest processing & markets.

Expert guest speakers

Expert guest speakers

Expert guest speakers

Maine Dept. of Marine Resources,

 Army Corps of Engineers,

The University of Maine,

 Aquaculture Research Institute, 

Kennebec River Biosciences,

industry experts, and more.


Program History And Previous Trainings

For over a decade  Aquaculture in Shared Waters has prepared fishermen and others to start aquaculture ventures, with 11 cohorts completing the introductory course in training held across the state. The name, Aquaculture in Shared Waters, reflects the fact that aquaculture is one of many diverse uses of Maine’s coastline, which requires consideration of other user groups and collaboration within communities. The program  incorporates years of social science research, in partnership with the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences, to continually evaluate and improve effective student learning.  In 2021, an additional advanced workshop-based training program (AQSW 2.0) was developed to support existing aquaculture businesses in strengthening, expanding, and adding value to their operations.  

2013 Course: COREA and Harpswell

2015 Course: Brunswick

2016 Course: thomaston

2017 Course: Ellsworth

2018 Course: Bath and Machias

2019 Course: Brunswick

2020 Course: Brunswick

2021 Course: virtual

2021-2022 advanced workshops: brunswick

Upcoming 2023 course: belfast and virtual

Program Partners

Copyright © 2022 Aquaculture in Shared Waters Training Program - All Rights Reserved.  

Photo Credits: Joseph Conroy III, The Maine Oyster Trail

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