Propelling Maine’s economy through locally grown food

COURTESY OF FOCUSMAINE

The working waterfront has supported Maine families for generations. While our population has grown, so too has innovation in seafood production that preserves the pride and livelihoods of one of Maine’s most important heritage industries. Farmed seafood improves the environment and mitigates climate change — Maine aquaculture produces among the lowest carbon footprints pound for pound of any animal protein. Aquaculture has proven to be an industry that positively impacts the environment, has high potential to strengthen Maine’s economy, and ultimately can contribute to enhanced prosperity for all Mainers.

At FocusMaine, we create and implement programs to help scale and innovate small and mid-size aquaculture farms and arm the workforce with the necessary skills for this unique industry. We do this through partnerships and tailored programming with other impactful organizations such as Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA), Educate Maine, New England Ocean Cluster, SEA Maine, and Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI). FocusMaine coordinates the efforts of this economic development ecosystem to propel Maine’s economy while retaining the state’s unique reputation for high-quality, locally-grown food. Through our programming, we also encourage innovation to ensure the competitive future of the industry and the quality of life of Maine workers.

Aquaculture Pioneers, run in partnership with Educate Maine, is a pre-apprenticeship program created to build the workforce for aquaculture in Maine and expand pathways for anyone to enter the industry. Farms who host apprentices receive a stipend and apprentices get unique on-the-water experience and appreciation for Maine’s natural resources. Michael Scannell participated in Pioneers last year at Madeline Point Oyster Farm as a junior Marine Affairs major at the University of New England. Michael is excited to continue his career by contributing to the growth of Maine aquaculture and was thrilled to learn that he doesn’t need to leave his home state to do it.

This year, FocusMaine kicked off the Seafood Promotional Council which was a key recommendation from the Roadmap released by the Seafood Economic Accelerator of Maine (SEA Maine). The Council is made up of industry leaders and workers who are executing pilot projects to advance market development and expansion for Maine seafood. Ultimately, this initiative intends to lay the foundation for an industry-led, financially sustainable, permanent Council to advance the Maine seafood brand and expand sales into out-of-state markets, strengthening Maine’s overall food economy through the responsible use of the state’s natural resources. If you would like to get involved with this effort, we invite you to reach out to [email protected].

Maine is a global leader in aquaculture, having developed best practices and established strict standards, many of which are now used throughout the U.S. and around the world. Aquaculture plays an important role in the future of Maine’s economy. Through the growth and success of this industry, we can expect enhanced opportunity and prosperity for all Maine people.