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2027 Aquaculture in Shared Water 1.0: Entry-Level Training Course
2027 Applications now open!
Applications for AQSW 1.0 will remain open through Dec. 2nd
About
This four-month training program covers the basics of shellfish and seaweed farming and is designed support people interested in starting their own aquaculture businesses in Maine.
AQSW 1.0 provides an introduction to cultivation of commercially valuable Maine species including oysters, mussels, scallops, and kelp. The course consists of 15 virtual classes and 5 in-person field trips. Classes are held weekly on Tuesdays from 6-8 pm beginning January 13th and continuing to April 21st. Participants will learn from leading industry, regulatory, and scientific experts on fundamental topics including:
- business planning
- site selection
- permitting
- navigating community relations
- biology of aquaculture species
- husbandry of aquaculture species
- aquaculture gear systems
- public health related to aquaculture products
- financing
- marketing
In addition to providing classroom and hands-on learning opportunities, participation in this class also involves receiving 10 hours of business mentorship, free.
This 2027 Entry-Level Aquaculture Training Course is hosted in partnership with the Aquaculture in Shared Waters program suite, which has helped people start and improve their aquaculture businesses in Maine for over a decade.
January - April 2027
2027 AQSW 1.0 details
Click below to find out more about this workshop series.
This course is being offered for people living in Maine who plan to start an aquaculture business. Given that this is an entry-level course, the target audience is new and very early farmers. Farmers with existing, revenue-producing businesses will be better suited to AQSW 2.0 or the AQSW Workshop Series. We encourage applications for this program from:
- People planning to start an aquaculture business in the next two years
- Those with a working waterfront background who are interested in branching into aquaculture
- People who have recently acquired an LPA but are pre-revenue
The course is free of charge to all participants and runs from January to April 2027. You must be a full-time resident of Maine to participate. In order to encourage community-building and connections within the student cohort, we will prioritize applicants who can commit to attending all of the classes.
Participants in this workshop series will:
- Gain understanding of introductory aquaculture topics, including biology of species, site selection, gear set-ups, and the permitting process
- Build skills in seamanship, business, safety, marketing, and more
- Network and connect with instructors, experts, and other early-aquaculturists
- Be empowered to share experiences and learnings with their student cohort
2027 Course Information and dates
This course consists of 15 virtual classes and 5 in-person field days. Classes are held weekly on Wednesday from 6:00pm beginning January 13th and continuing to April 21st. Field trips will take place between February 1st and June 1st with specific dates yet to be finalized. Learn more about tbelow.
January 13th, 6-8PM
Welcome to AQSW! We’ll start off with introductions, a course survey, and review course expectations. Next, we’ll dive into an intro to aquaculture, stewardship, and responsibilities.
January 20th, 6-8PM
Develop your business plan! This class will provide helpful tools and explore why to write a business plan, what’s in one, and how to determine your costs and income, including start-up vs. continuing operations costs and calculating the value of your time.
January 27th, 6-8 PM
Explore key factors to consider in selecting a farm site including access, multiple use, exposure and weather, physical and biological characteristics, climate-related impacts, and social dimensions. We’ll also discuss monitoring and assessment equipment and methods.
February 3rd, 6-8 PM
Discover how to lease or license an aquaculture site in Maine waters. We’ll cover allocation of rights, leasing mechanisms, the lease process, performance bonding, and more. Plus, we’ll discuss do’s and don’t with experts.
January 10th, 6-8PM
Interacting with the community is a key part of being an aquaculture farmer. In this class we'll discuss some strategies for effectively communicating with people about your farm and for being a good neighbor to other members of the waterfront community.
February 17th, 6-8PM
Learn life cycles, basic anatomy, links between these species and the environment, species seasonality, major predators, and food and nutrient requirements for bivalves.
February 24th, 6-8PM
Learn life cycles, basic anatomy, ecology, species seasonality, major predators, and food and nutrient requirements for seaweeds.
March 3rd, 6-8PM
Dive deep into sourcing shellfish seed! We’ll explore seed sourcing, nurseries, and upwellers of all sorts for oysters, mussels, and scallops.
March 10th, 6-8PM
Explore oyster production including various grow-out strategies, farm designs, gear varieties, & processing set-ups, as well as other species specific considerations!
March 17th, 6-8PM
Explore mussel production, including various grow-out strategies, farm designs, gear varieties, & processing set-ups, as well as other species specific considerations!
March 24th, 6-8PM
A whole evening of sea scallop production, including all sorts of grow-out strategies, farm designs, gear varieties, and processing set-ups, as well as other species specific considerations!
March 31st, 6-8PM
It’s kelp night! We’ll cover kelp seed sourcing, nurseries, farm designs, seasonal cultivation, harvest and handling, processing, and how to get your kelp sold. We’ll also have a discussion about value added products.
April 7th, 6-8PM
Keep your consumers safe! In this public health class we’ll cover water quality and how it affects shellfish and seaweed, as well as vibrio, biotoxins, and safe shellfish and seaweed handling.
April 14th, 6-8PM
Explore critical aspects of reducing risk on your farm and farms around you. Learn the basics of shellfish disease and pathology, transmission and prevention, and biosecurity measures.
April 21st, 6-8PM
Determine how to market and sell your products. We’ll cover the difference between sales and marketing, competitors and competitive advantage, transportation, distribution, marketing plans, and low-cost tactics for small farms. We’ll also discuss state licensing for dealers.
Field day attendance is highly encouraged. Field days are in-person at locations around the state. Dates for field days listed below are tentative and will be finalized when the course begins.
February 5th, 9AM-4PM
Morning: Apply what you’ve learned about business planning during class in this workshop where we will work with experts and fellow shared-waters participants to do some visioning and budgeting exercises.
Afternoon: Work with experts and fellow shared-waters participants to learn your way around water quality monitoring tools and explore site selection in real time using digital tools.
February 26th, 10AM-3PM
Step by step, work through an LPA application with experts to learn about the nuances of the regulatory landscape in Maine.
March 19th, 10AM-3PM
Run through basic skills that you’ll need for working on the water in an aquaculture setting. Knot tying, mooring construction, splicing, building a basic first aid kit, and more!
April 2nd, 10AM-3PM
Explore various types of farm gear with experts and work with fellow shared-waters participants to plan out a farm setup and estimated cost.
May 21st, 1-6PM
Visit an active working waterfront in Yarmouth, Maine with aquaculture, marine construction, and more! We will tour local farms and enjoy a casual networking gathering with other industry members. Timing will be afternoon and include dinner (1:00-6:00PM).
2027 Applications now open!
Applications for AQSW 1.0 will remain open through Dec. 2nd
2027 Course Directors
Maya Pelletier
Christian Brayden
Maya Pelletier
Workforce & Education Manager,
Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center
Maya is an Ellsworth native who first jumped into aquaculture in 2021 as a deck hand on an oyster farm . Now an MAIC team member, she manages projects related to aquaculture workforce and education. She is also a graduate student in the Aquaculture Program at the University of Maine.
Alison Feibel
Christian Brayden
Maya Pelletier
Community Engagement Coordinator, Maine Aquaculture Association
Alison has over a decade of experience in marine science and natural resource management, including eight years working in Maine’s seaweed industry. Her work focuses on supporting aquaculture farmers, engaging coastal communities, and strengthening Maine’s working waterfront.
Christian Brayden
Christian Brayden
Christian Brayden
Project Manager,
Maine Aquaculture Association
Christian's work focuses on applied research and assisting growers with aquaculture business and production planning, including financial benchmarking, risk management, and crop insurance.
Partner Organizations
2027 aqsw programming is funded by the usda beginning farmers and ranchers development program
Application for aqsw 1.0: Entry-Level Training course Open
Please reach out to learn@maineaquaculture.org with any questions about the course.
Questions about this series?
Interested in other Trainings?
Interested in other Trainings?
We'd love to chat! Drop us a line on our
contact page or reach out to us directly at learn@maineaquaculture.org
Interested in other Trainings?
Interested in other Trainings?
Interested in other Trainings?
Aquaculture in Shared Waters offers regular trainings for folks interested in starting or expanding aquaculture farms. Join our interested parties list to receive info about future courses.
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