Strengthening Aquaculture Ties with Japan

In October, Maine Sea Grant’s Dana Morse spent two weeks in Japan, as part of a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Maine-Aomori sister-state relationship, and as part of a technology transfer exchange on scallop farming, between a group of growers and scientists from Maine, and scallop farmers, equipment manufacturers and processors in Aomori and Hokkaido.

The first week was dedicated to the sister-state relationship, and was led by Wade Merritt, President of the Maine International Trade Center, and Representative Ellie Sato, and organized by the Maine-Aomori Sister State Advisory Council. The group met with the Governor and Vice-Governor of Aomori Prefecture, the Mayor of Tsugaru City, and a variety of other local officials, in commemorating the relationship and looking forward to future years and collaborations. A letter from Maine Governor Janet Mills was delivered and read for Aomori Governor Miyashita, and an official exchanging of gifts between the two. Japanese hosts also arranged a variety of visits to a premier scallop processor, sites of archaeological significance, temples and museums.

Following those visits, a group of scallop farmers and scientists from Maine and Canada toured waterfronts, gear manufacturers, scallop processors and seafood markets in Aomori and Hokkaido, part of a long-standing relationship of technology transfer on scallop farming. This group was organized by Hugh Cowperthwaite of Coastal Enterprises Inc, and Kei Hamano of Japan Fishing Machines. The ongoing process of introducing Maine producers to the Japanese scallop industry has been instrumental in the growth of the scallop-farming industry here in Maine, with exceptional opportunities to learn directly from experienced scallop farmers, and to observe the specialized equipment and processes in action, as well as the incredible spectrum of products made from scallops in the Japanese marketplace.

The relationship centering on scallops has brought benefits in other areas. Morse introduced Japan Fishing Machines to fishermen in Rhode Island, to experiment with jigging equipment in the squid fishery based in Point Judith. Cowperthwaite led a tech-transfer trip to Japan focused on seaweed production and products in 2024, and in 2025, Morse and Cowperthwaite will team up with Hamano again to explore urchin production, processing and markets in Hokkaido, with an eye toward advancing the urchin culture industry here in Maine. This work is in collaboration with UMaine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), the University of Rhode Island, Maine Department of Marine Resources, and urchin farmers in Maine. Overall, the Maine-Aomori relationship has brought singular insights into the aquaculture industry here in Maine, and has helped to create or support new industries for farmed products in the state.

Posted 18 February 2026