Seaweed Scene 2014

The “Seaweed Scene 2014” was held on the beautiful oceanfront campus of the Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, ME, on August 30th. The morning meeting reviewed the latest from the new seaweed farmers and researchers in Maine and Long Island Sound. The diverse crowd, made up of researchers, students, entrepreneurs, writers, and the seaweed-curious, had an opportunity to network, learn about opportunities and challenges, and try locally made sea vegetable bagels. The Seaweed Scene was followed by the first ever Maine Seaweed Festival, which was a celebration of all things marine macro algae, and included a children’s tent, poetry reading, book signings, lectures, music, seaweed flags, beach walks, a geodesic dome, a mermaid photo booth, Maine seaweed businesses, and food trucks and ice cream that all incorporated Maine sea vegetables into their offerings.

Funding for the Seaweed Scene event comes from a grant from the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and Maine Sea Grant, with coordination from the Maine Sea Grant College Program and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Agenda (PDF)

Presentations

	Bangs Island Kelp Matthew Moretti, MS (Wild Ocean Aquaculture, LLC/Bangs Island Mussels)
	Blue Mussels and Sugar Kelp in Casco Bay Seth Barker, Peter Fischer, and Peter Arnold (Maine Fresh Sea Farms)
	Research Support for Development of Maine’s Sea Vegetable Industry Susan H. Brawley (University of Maine), Sarah Redmond (Maine Sea Grant), Charlotte C. Quigley (University of Maine), Geneva York (University of Maine), and Nick Brown (University of Maine)
	2013 – 2014 Seaweed farm year in a cold Long Island Sound Charles Yarish (University of Connecticut), and J.K. Kim (University of Connecticut)
	Sharing Culture: Skills and Services in Support of the Maine Algal Industry Michael W. Lomas (Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota [NCMA]), Steve Archer (Bigelow Laboratory), and Tim Pinkhim (Bigelow Laboratory)
	Business Support for Maine’s Marine Algae Sector Dick Clime (CEI)
	From Wild Crafted to Farm Raised – A new seaweed farm in Sorrento Shep Erhart (Maine Coast Sea Vegetables)