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.
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.
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.
Dive into husbandry and best practices for shellfish and seaweed species, including seed sourcing, grow-out, harvesting, and processing.
Explore critical aspects of keeping your farm and consumers safe, including shellfish handling, water quality, vibrio, biotoxins, diseases and more.
Determine how to sell and market your products. We cover marketing, sales, distribution, low-cost tactics for small farms, and licensing for dealers.
Develop your aquaculture business plan. Learn from experts about writing a business plan, determining costs and income, and financing.
Executive Director,
Maine Aquaculture Association
Fundamentals of aquaculture, biosecurity and best practices.
Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Program. Coastal Enterprises Inc
Marketing, branding, sales, and aquaculture business development.
Senior Program Director, Fisheries & Aquaculture. Coastal Enterprises Inc
hugh.cowperthwaite@ceimaine.org
Lending, business counseling, technical assistance and scallops.
Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center
Shellfish biology and husbandry, equipment and gear, new species.
Project Director, Maine
Aquaculture Innovation Center
Community relations and social license to operate in Maine.
Senior Extension Program Manager - Aquaculture Lead, Maine Sea Grant
Cultivation of oysters, scallops, and other species, hands-on gear demo.
Marine Extension Associate,
Maine Sea Grant
Kelp farming, harvest and handling, post-harvest processing & markets.
Maine Dept. of Marine Resources,
Army Corps of Engineers,
The University of Maine,
Aquaculture Research Institute,
Kennebec River Biosciences,
industry experts, and more.
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.
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Photo Credits: Joseph Conroy III, The Maine Oyster Trail
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