Aquaculture

Because of declines in commercial fishing opportunities for wild fish, and the state’s overwhelming dependence on lobster, much of the seafood-related work undertaken by Maine Sea Grant is related to developing and supporting opportunities for wild harvesters and aquaculture producers to strengthen or diversify their seafood-related businesses. Our goal is that Sea Grant activities contribute to a more diverse seafood industry in Maine, in which fewer individual operators, businesses, and communities are dependent on a single commercial species, and vulnerable to environmental or economic changes affecting those species.

Our work in aquaculture has a long history (the very first “Sea Grant” in Maine was awarded for oyster aquaculture in 1971). Today our work includes continued development of new culture techniques and target species, as well as marketing, industry support, and connections to consumers.