COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
A scallop farm based in Belfast and co-owned by University of Maine alumnus Struan Coleman was featured in the PBS documentary “Hope in the Water.” Coleman received his master’s in marine policy from UMaine in 2021, during which time he studied the economic feasibility of scallop farming in Maine and was introduced to one of the founders of Vertical Bay.
“Hope in the Water” is a three-part documentary series that highlights the stories of innovators, water farmers, and fishers working toward a sustainable future. Vertical Bay is featured in the second episode titled “Farming the Water,” as the story shows how the team at Vertical Bay sustainably farms scallops from seed to market size using Japanese techniques. The episode, which tells the origin story of scallop farming in Maine, received a 2025 Emmy nomination for outstanding science and technology coverage.
Vertical Bay’s episode featured Martha Stewart, who spent a day on the water farming scallops, and another one demonstrating how to cook them at her home on Mount Desert Island.
“Working with the ‘Hope in the Water’ team was an incredible experience,” Coleman said. “Our whole team at Vertical Bay was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to tell our story and highlight the ways in which dozens of researchers, farmers, and regulators have come together to build this new and exciting industry in the state. Getting to spend the day with Martha Stewart was also a once in a lifetime experience.”
Coleman joined Vertical Bay, which was co-founded in 2017 by Andrew Peters, late in 2022. Today, the business employs two full-time crew members and sells scallops to home cooks and restaurants across the country. Vertical Bay is one of the companies in Maine working to commercialize research and development that has been led by institutions such as UMaine, Maine Sea Grant, and the Maine Aquaculture Association.
Maine is a leader in aquaculture, and the R1, sea-grant University of Maine plays a pivotal role in growing the industry and ensuring the state continues to be a global competitor in the Blue Economy. Programs and partnerships led by faculty and staff in the School of Marine Sciences and Cooperative Extension solve industry challenges and prepare the future workforce. World-class facilities such as the Aquaculture Research Institute, the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research, and the Darling Marine Center support the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources through experiential student learning, cutting-edge research and industry collaboration. For more information, visit umaine.edu.
