Maine’s Sea Grant’s role in the seafood industry
COURTESY OF MAINE SEA GRANT
On the coast of Maine, whether you’re munching on lobster, haddock, or a seaweed salad, you’re supporting the time-honored traditions of those who make their living from the sea. Maine’s seafood community is bursting with the ingenuity needed to keep up with the ecology and economy of an ever-changing world. Maine Sea Grant’s long-term collaborations with fishermen, sea farmers, regulators, researchers, and community leaders help strengthen Maine’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors. As a federal-state partnership between NOAA and the University of Maine, our team is connected to a national network of 33 other Sea Grant programs in coastal states, Puerto Rico, and Guam, bringing a broad perspective to address local needs.
What does that look like in practice for Maine’s seafood economy? When anyone in the industry reaches out to Sea Grant staff for support, they’re tapping into a network of hundreds of extension professionals around the country, and in some cases, a global aquaculture community. Whether we are working with Maine’s farmers to develop new seafood products, adapt to rapid environmental change, or diversify their businesses, we draw upon expertise and resources from around the world. In the words of a Casco Bay oyster farmer, “The generosity of the Maine Sea Grant team in knowledge transfer and introductions is one huge reason why our aquaculture community is so strong.”
How do Sea Grant staff gain national and global perspectives? We participate in knowledge exchanges. For example, traveling to Japan to investigate scallop growing techniques or South Korea to glean ideas for how to strengthen Maine’s seaweed industry. We bring this knowledge home and work directly with farmers to apply methods that work best for Maine’s coastal communities. We also host experts and others eager to learn from our state’s reputation for providing safe, sustainable seafood.
What are some great examples of our work? The Maine Oyster Trail, recently featured in the New York Times, is an example of Maine Sea Grant’s work to connect people from elsewhere to Maine’s aquaculture industry. Maine Sea Grant established the Trail more than a decade ago, and worked with the Maine Aquaculture Association to launch an expanded version during COVID. The current version features 93 farms and businesses providing interactive oyster experiences like kayak tours, learn-to-shuck classes, and opportunities to buy directly from farmers. With nearly 6,000 registered users, the Trail serves both locals and visitors looking to experience all that Maine’s oyster community has to offer.
Alongside partners across the state, we also provide training and professional development opportunities so that Maine’s small business owners and farmhands have the skills and knowledge they need on the water. In the words of a Downeast oyster farmer, “Mainers rely on our working waterfronts for jobs, food, culture, and sustainability. Maine Sea Grant helps us to thrive.”
Fishing and farming are all about solving problems and looking for new opportunities. As Maine’s sea farmers face these challenges and opportunities head on, we strive to connect them with the science and knowledge they need.
