Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN RECENT YEARS, WILD HARVESTS OF FISH AND SHELLFISH HAVE DECLINED DUE TO OVERHARVESTING AS WELL AS CLIMATE IMPACTS, LEADING TO THOUSANDS OF MAINE FISHERMEN BEING CHALLENGED TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE FROM THE SEA (JOHNSON ET AL., 2014). AQUACULTURE IS THE REARING, AND HARVESTING OF AQUATIC ANIMALS AND PLANTS - FISH, SHELLFISH, ALGAE, AND OTHER ORGANISMS - IN WATER. BY PROVIDING COASTAL COMMUNITIES THE MEANS TO FARM THE SEA, WE CAN HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. SINCE 2013, A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS, SEVERAL WITH DIRECT AQUACULTURE FARMING EXPERIENCE, HAVE CONDUCTED AQUACULTURE TRAINING COURSES IN MAINE CONCENTRATING ON CROPS WITH PROVEN LOW COSTS OF ENTRY (PRINCIPALLY SHELLFISH AND SEA VEGETABLES). THIS AQUACULTURE TRAINING COURSE HAS BECOME KNOWN AS 'AQUACULTURE IN SHARED WATERS (AQSW),AND HAS SERVED ALMOST 500 PEOPLE ACROSS MAINE SINCE ITS INCEPTION. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS INCREASINGLY FELT BY MAINE COASTAL COMMUNITIES, THERE IS NOW INCREASING AND URGENT DEMAND FOR AQUACULTURE TRAINING. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THIS TIMELY NEED BY REACHING NEW/ASPIRING AQUACULTURE FARMERS, EARLY FARMERS (OPERATING <10 YEARS), SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BEGINNING FARMERS, AND FEMALE AND NON-BINARY FARMERS. BUILDING ON THE MODEL OF PAST YEARS OF AQSW AND EXPANDING THE PROJECT TO ADDRESS NEEDS HIGHLIGHTED BY PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK AND INDUSTRY RESEARCH, THIS PROJECT WILL: PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SKILL-BUILDING TRAINING FOR ASPIRING FARMERS, DEVELOP AND DELIVER TRAINING FOR EARLY FARMERS, PROVIDE TARGETED SKILLS TRAINING FOR WOMEN/NON-BINARY FARMERS, AND INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF TRAININGS FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THIS WORK WILL RESULT IN A MORE EQUITABLE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY WITH REDUCED BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR FARMERS AND EMPOWERED AND INFORMED FARMING COMMUNITIES.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INTRODUCTION: BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN ANDMAINE'S AQUACULTURE SECTOR NEEDS TO LEVERAGE THESE BENEFITS TOO. CURRENTLY, AQUACULTURE EDUCATIONDEPENDS ON THE INTEREST OF INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS, WITH ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF EDUCATORS ANDSCHOOL DISTRICTS EMBRACING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INCORPORATING AQUACULTURE EDUCATION INTOTHEIR CURRICULA.GOAL: TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MAINE'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATORS INTEGRATINGAQUACULTURE CONCEPTS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.OBJECTIVES: (1) PROMOTE EDUCATOR EXPERTISE IN, AND ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF, AQUACULTURESCIENCES IN MAINE'S ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. (2) IDENTIFY AQUACULTURECLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES, AND PROMOTE MAINE EDUCATOR AWARENESS OF AND ACCESSIBILITYTO THEM.ACTIVITIES: PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: COLLECTING AND ORGANIZING AQUACULTURE CLASSROOM RESOURCESINTO COHERENT SEAWEED, SHELLFISH AND AQUAPONIC CURRICULA. TEACHER TRAINING EVENTS TO SUPPORTIMPLEMENTATION OF CURRICULA INTO GRADE 4 TO 8 CLASSROOMS, INCLUDING EDUCATOR WEBINARS,WORKSHOPS, AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO EDUCATORS ANDCONNECTIONS TO MAINE'S AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS PROMOTING EDUCATOR ACCESSIBILITY TORESOURCES.PARTICIPANTS: CLASSROOM EDUCATORS TEACHING GRADES 4-8 WILL BE INTRODUCED TO AQUACULTURE ANDSUPPORTED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF AQUACULTURE INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.INTENDED IMPACT: AQUACULTURE EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM WILL REDUCE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN FARMAND TABLE, ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, INCREASE AWARENESS OF AQUACULTURECAREERS, AND HELP TO DEVELOP AN INFORMED CONSUMER BASE AND COMMUNITIES.RELEVANCE TO PDAL PRIORITIES:THIS PROPOSAL ALIGNS WITH THE PDAL PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY BYSEEKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF K-14 EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN AQUACULTURE SCIENCES.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER AND WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE PARTNERING TO CREATE AND PILOT WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMMING FOR AQUACULTURE. THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM WAS IDENTIFIED IN A RECENT REPORT WRITTEN BY THE GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF NEW CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, PILOT TESTING CURRICULUM AND DELIVERY METHODS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS. THE CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL MEET THE NEED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL SKILL SETS IN 4 KEY AQUACULTURE SUB-SECTORS (RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE, FIN-FISH AQUACULTURE, SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE, AND MACROALGAE AQUACULTURE) AND INCORPORATE THE LATEST TEACHING AND AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGIES. STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE WITH A WORKFORCE TRAINING CERTIFICATE OR AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE.THIS PROPOSED EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM TARGETING THE NEEDS OF THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR IN MAINE, IN ORDER TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF DATA AND TECH-SAVVY AQUACULTURISTS. THE PROGRAMMING DEVELOPED WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE EXPANDED TO OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN MAINE, AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST U.S. THE CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL MEET THE NEED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL SKILL SETS IN 4 KEY AQUACULTURE SUB-SECTORS: 1) LAND-BASED RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE; 2) MARINE FIN-FISH AQUACULTURE; 3) COLD-WATER COASTAL SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE; AND 4) MARINE MACROALGAE AQUACULTURETHE PROPOSED WORKFORCE TRAINING PROJECT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF NEW CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, PILOT TESTING OF THE CURRICULUM AND DELIVERY METHODS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR A WORKFORCE TRAINING CERTIFICATE, AND AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE FOCUSED ON AQUACULTURE.

PURPOSE: PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO GROWTH OF THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR IN THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES. TO BUFFER THIS OPPOSITION, MANY FARMERS HAVE PUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT INTO BUILDING THEIR SOCIAL LICENSE - THE INFORMAL, ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THEIR PROJECT GRANTED BY COMMUNITIES. FOR AQUACULTURE FARMERS, THIS SOCIAL LICENSE WORKS INVOLVES HONEST AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, CONSISTENT OUTREACH (BEYOND WHAT IS LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR THE PERMITTING PROCESS), EDUCATION-CENTERED ENGAGEMENT APPROACHES, RESPONSIBLE FARM PRACTICES, AND TANGIBLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THIS WORK IS ESSENTIAL FOR FARMERS INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS SUCCESS AS WELL AS BROADER INDUSTRY GROWTH. DESPITE ITS DOCUMENTED IMPORTANCE, ONE MAJOR BARRIER IS THE LACK OF GUIDANCE FOR FARMERS ON OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT. OFTEN FARMERS ARE CREATING OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES AS THEY GO, AND IN SOME CASES, UNINTENTIONAL MISTAKES EARLY ON CAN LEAD TO IRREPARABLE DAMAGE DOWN THE ROAD (E.G. IF A FARMER NEGLECTS KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN INITIAL OUTREACH ATTEMPTS). THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AQUACULTURE BUSINESSES AS WELL AS SUPPORT EXISTING AQUACULTURE BUSINESSES THROUGH THE CO-DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL GUIDEBOOK THAT OFFERS PRACTICAL ADVICE ON NAVIGATING COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE EXTENSION COMPONENTA WORKSHOP SERIESENSURES THAT ALL RESOURCES DEVELOPED GET TO END-USERS AND THAT STRATEGIES ARE ADOPTED BY INDUSTRY MEMBERS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) CO-DEVELOPING A REGIONAL GUIDEBOOK WITH FARMERS TO ADVANCE SOCIAL LICENSE FOR SHELLFISH AND SEAWEED FARMING ACROSS SIX COASTAL STATES IN THE NORTHEAST. THIS WILL INVOLVE TWO FOCUS GROUP SERIES IN EACH PARTICIPATING STATE, AS WELL AS SUPPLEMENTAL INTERVIEWS WITH FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS; (2) CREATING ACCESSIBLE INDUSTRY RESOURCES, INCLUDING SUMMARY DOCUMENTS, INFOGRAPHICS, AND WEBINARS, TO SUPPORT FARMER COMMUNITY OUTREACH; (3) DISSEMINATING FINDINGS AND CATALYZING INDUSTRY ADOPTION THROUGH SOCIAL LICENSE WORKSHOPS IN EACH STATE; AND (4), MEASURING IMPACTS OF PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BEHAVIORS AMONG FARMERS. WE WILL DO THIS USING A PRE- AND POST-SURVEY THAT RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS AND WORKSHOP ATTENDEES WILL TAKE TO MEASURE WHETHER THEY INCREASED THEIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AFTER PARTICIPATING/ATTENDING WORKSHOPS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: EXPECTED NEAR TERM OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) INCREASED FARMER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, (2) INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL LICENSE AMONG FARMERS, (3) DECREASED LOCALIZED OPPOSITION, (4) INCREASED FINANCIAL GAINS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT AND EXPANSION OF THEIR NETWORKS, AND (5) STRENGTHENED COLLABORATION WITH AQUACULTURE EXTENSION MEMBERS AND FARMERS IN THE REGION. EXPECTED LONG TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE (1) IMPROVED PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF AQUACULTURE, AND (2) INCREASED INDUSTRY GROWTH BY FOSTERING BETTER COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND REDUCING SOCIAL BARRIERS TO NEW AND EXISTING AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: AQUACULTURE BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES. THE INTENTION OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR FARMERS RELATED TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. THIS SUBJECT IS EXCEPTIONALLY CHALLENGING, AND CLEAR GUIDANCE WILL HELP BUSINESSES OWNERS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THIS BARRIER TO GROWTH. COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE AQUACULTURE ACTIVITY WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS WORK. FARMERS WHO ADOPT SOCIAL LICENSE PRACTICES WILL BE BETTER NEIGHBORS AND MORE INVESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SEA GRANT PARTNERS FROM EACH PARTICIPATING STATE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PROJECT DESIGN, AND WILL HELP CONNECT PROJECT PIS WITH FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THEIR LOCAL AREA. THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE INPUT ON THE GUIDEBOOK, RESOURCES, AND WILL HELP DESIGN AND EXECUTE SOCIAL LICENSE WORKSHOPS IN THEIR OWN STATE.

THE MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER (MAIC) PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE, NATIONWIDE CONSUMER INSIGHTS SURVEY ON EDIBLE SEAWEED AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS THAT WILL PROVE HIGHLY VALUABLE IN LOCATING PROMISING MARKETS FOR U.S. FARMED SEAWEED. SURVEY DATA WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP AN INTERACTIVE DATA DASHBOARD FOR USE BY SEAWEED FARMERS, DISTRIBUTORS, WHOLESALERS, AQUACULTURE RESEARCHERS, AND EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS.EDIBLE SEAWEED CAN PROVIDE INCOME DIVERSIFICATION FOR AQUACULTURE OPERATORS AS WELL AS FISHERMEN STRUGGLING IN THE WILD-CATCH INDUSTRY DUE TO THE COLLAPSE OF FISHERIES FROM WARMING WATERS, HABITAT DEGRADATION, AND INVASIVE SPECIES. HOWEVER, LITTLE CONSUMER RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED ON SEAWEED, LEAVING STAKEHOLDERS IN NEED OF INSIGHTS DATA ON WHICH TO BASE MARKET-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING THAT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED REVENUES AND HIGHER PROFITABILITY FOR SEAWEED FARMERS AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCERS.THIS WORK DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM PRIORITY AREA: ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOR INCREASING COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE PROFITABILITY. THE CONSUMER RESEARCH WE CONDUCT WILL PROVIDE THE CRITICAL MARKET DATA NECESSARY TO SUPPORT NEW AND ESTABLISHED AQUACULTURE OPERATORS ENTERING THE FARMED SEAWEED MARKET. AS FISHERIES BECOME INCREASINGLY LESS STABLE AND MORE REGULATIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE ON CAPTURE QUOTAS AND SIZE RESTRICTIONS, FISHERMEN CAN TURN TO THIS HIGHLY VALUABLE, EMERGING MARKET. REGIONAL DATA ON CONSUMPTION HABITS, PREFERENCES, AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY THAT CAN BE FILTERED BY DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS AGE, GENDER, AND INCOME-LEVEL WILL ENABLE SEAWEED FARMERS TO TARGET THE MOST PROFITABLE MARKET SEGMENTS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS, OR TO TAILOR THEIR PRODUCT OFFERINGS AND VOLUMES TO SPECIFIC REGIONS.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT