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            Reports
            
            
                
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                        Maine Aquaculture Workforce Development Strategy SummaryDownload the PDF
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                        Maine AWDS Full Evidence ReportDownload the PDF
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                        Shellfish Aquaculture FlowchartDownload the PDF
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                        Aquaculture Apprenticeship FlyerDownload the PDF
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                        Scallop Aquaculture ReportDownload the PDF
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                        Shellfish Aquaculture Pocket GuideDownload the PDF
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                        Aquaculture Game Student WorksheetDownload the PDF
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                        Maine DOL Aquaculture Apprenticeship HighlightDownload the PDF
Programs And Projects
            
            
                
                    View all Programs And Projects
                    
                
            
        
        
        
            
                
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![Container full of freshly harvested mussels next to the foot of a person wearing orange foul weather gear]()  Maine Aquaculture Workforce Development StrategyIn Maine’s aquaculture industry the workforce shortage has been an obstacle to growth for many businesses. This in-depth analysis aims to help determine the current … Community 
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![A researcher holds up a small bivalve for the camera in a thick green glove, which has a slight curved shell with white and brown streaks.]()  Maine Aquaculture Apprenticeship ProgramThe Registered Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program is a first-of-its-kind workforce development initiative designed to train the next generation of aquaculture professionals in Maine. Community 
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![A person wearing blue rubber gloves holding freshly harvested mussels]()  Advancing AquacultureWe are working collaboratively with industry leaders, farmers, researchers, the business community, and other nonprofits to identify and pursue opportunities to expand aquaculture production. Together, … Community 
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![A group of students are being taught about aquaculture cages.]()  Supporting the Development of Socioecological LiteracyThis project advances efforts to better understand and promote practices that broaden access to and interest in regionally relevant science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) … Science 
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![Gloved hands sort through a table of black mussels.]()  Aquaculture Top GunTop Gun is a unique entrepreneurial training program that has helped accelerate the growth of over 200 startup companies since 2009. Our program is tailored … Community 
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![A group of scallops]()  Scallop Aquaculture InitiativeIn January 2021, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the University of Maine, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc. convened to form the Scallop Aquaculture Initiative (SAI), … Strategic Initiatives 
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![A mussel farmer carrying equipment on a barge with the city of Portland in the background]()  Supporting Coastal Aquaculture DevelopmentShellfish aquaculture is growing rapidly. In Maine, limited purpose aquaculture (LPA) licenses are relatively easy to attain, and this attracts more people to enter aquaculture … Science 
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![Three lobster boats sit next to a dock facing the camera, loaded with different colored lobster traps. The dock is on the left of the photo, and the boats are on the right. The boat in the foreground is black, the middle boat is teal, and the boat in the back is white. A man in orange waders weaves through the lobster traps on the dock and is walking toward the middle boat.]()  NSPIRE: Bringing Technological Innovation to Fisheries and SeafoodNSPIRE will address the economic, environmental, and policy challenges threatening New England’s seafood industry through technological innovation that strengthens boat-to-plate initiatives and collaborative science across … 
Stories
            
            
                
                    View all Stories
                    
                
            
        
        
        
            
                
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![Employees of Bangs Island Mussels in Casco Bay work on mussel rafts on the water.]()  New Report Highlights Aquaculture Workforce NeedMaine's aquaculture industry is growing. Our new report highlights projected workforce needs and identifies opportunities to meet them. Tidings 
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![Workers on a dock are moving big crates around with a small crane.]()  Building a Healthy Blue Economy WorkforceA vital workforce is central to a thriving blue economy. By equipping more people with the necessary skills to enter and succeed in that workforce, … Perspectives 
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![A researcher holds up a small bivalve for the camera in a thick green glove, which has a slight curved shell with white and brown streaks.]()  Collaborations Fuel Aquaculture ProgressWith support from a wide network of collaborators, our Aquaculture team advanced three important projects this year, including a workforce development strategy, an entrepreneur development … Perspectives 
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![Three fishermen in orange stand on a white boat that is floating to the image's left.]()  Aquaculture ImpactAs part of our new strategic plan, aquaculture has emerged as an opportunity for us to accelerate the growth of a diverse seafood economy. Our … Announcements 
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![Employees of Bangs Island Mussels in Casco Bay work on mussel rafts on the water.]()  Aquaculture 101Aquaculture is quickly gaining popularity in our region, so we created a brief overview for you about what aquaculture is and its role in the … Perspectives 
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![A small white motorboat drifts between rows of black buoys that line and border different sections of an area used for aquaculture.]()  Updates on Aquaculture2018 was a year of partnerships, progress, and growth for our aquaculture team. We took on local infrastructure projects, state-level growth initiatives, and workforce development … Perspectives 
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![A graphic featuring fishing boats.]()  Sea State Recap: The Thriving Blue EconomyIn this installment of the Sea State series at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), we delved into the complexities and opportunities of our … Perspectives 
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![A white boat drifts on blue water next to a line of floating cages.]()  Aquaculture Analysis Shows Opportunity for MaineIn a report published this fall, our aquaculture program team announced important findings from their recently completed market analysis for farmed shellfish in Maine. Tidings 
General
            
            
                
                    View all General
                    
                
            
        
        
        
            
                
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![hands shown in closeup processing blue mussels on a conveyer belt]()  New Report Evaluates Aquaculture Workforce Needs and Education Opportunities
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![]()  Aquaculture in Maine
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![]()  New aquaculture apprenticeship program for Mainers
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![]()  New directions for Maine's aquaculture industry
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![]()  Consultant sees huge growth potential for Maine aquaculture
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![]()  Maine has nation’s only Shellfish & Seaweed Aquaculture Apprenticeship programs
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![]()  South Portland to study aquaculture potential of city-owned pier
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![a simple logo wordmark that says "the Maine aquaculturist"]()  Gulf of Maine Research Institute launches new aquaculture knowledge portal
Departments And Labs
            
            
        
        
        
            
                
                    - 
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                
![Fish on ice in the fish auction house.]()  Developing the Blue Economy & Supporting Working WaterfrontsRevitalizing coastal communities by supporting traditional and emerging industries and protecting vital infrastructure. 
- 
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                
![Bags of mussels sitting on ice.]()  Supporting the Local Seafood EconomyWe strengthen the Gulf of Maine seafood industry by bolstering regional market share for local, sustainable fish. We support both wild and farmed fisheries as … 
- 
                        
                        
                            
                                
                                
![People are gathered in an observation platform above the ocean.]()  Economic Development DepartmentWe collaborate with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and the business community to foster a resilient and sustainable regional marine economy. 
People
            
            
        
        
        
        
    
    
Reports
View all ReportsMaine Aquaculture Workforce Development Strategy Summary
Download the PDFMaine AWDS Full Evidence Report
Download the PDFShellfish Aquaculture Flowchart
Download the PDFAquaculture Apprenticeship Flyer
Download the PDFScallop Aquaculture Report
Download the PDFShellfish Aquaculture Pocket Guide
Download the PDFAquaculture Game Student Worksheet
Download the PDFMaine DOL Aquaculture Apprenticeship Highlight
Download the PDFPrograms And Projects
View all Programs And Projects 
                            
                        
                        
                        Maine Aquaculture Workforce Development Strategy
In Maine’s aquaculture industry the workforce shortage has been an obstacle to growth for many businesses. This in-depth analysis aims to help determine the current …
Community
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Maine Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program
The Registered Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program is a first-of-its-kind workforce development initiative designed to train the next generation of aquaculture professionals in Maine.
Community
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Advancing Aquaculture
We are working collaboratively with industry leaders, farmers, researchers, the business community, and other nonprofits to identify and pursue opportunities to expand aquaculture production. Together, …
Community
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Supporting the Development of Socioecological Literacy
This project advances efforts to better understand and promote practices that broaden access to and interest in regionally relevant science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) …
Science
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Aquaculture Top Gun
Top Gun is a unique entrepreneurial training program that has helped accelerate the growth of over 200 startup companies since 2009. Our program is tailored …
Community
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Scallop Aquaculture Initiative
In January 2021, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the University of Maine, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc. convened to form the Scallop Aquaculture Initiative (SAI), …
Strategic Initiatives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Supporting Coastal Aquaculture Development
Shellfish aquaculture is growing rapidly. In Maine, limited purpose aquaculture (LPA) licenses are relatively easy to attain, and this attracts more people to enter aquaculture …
Science
 
                            
                        
                        
                        NSPIRE: Bringing Technological Innovation to Fisheries and Seafood
NSPIRE will address the economic, environmental, and policy challenges threatening New England’s seafood industry through technological innovation that strengthens boat-to-plate initiatives and collaborative science across …
Stories
View all Stories 
                            
                        
                        
                        New Report Highlights Aquaculture Workforce Need
Maine's aquaculture industry is growing. Our new report highlights projected workforce needs and identifies opportunities to meet them.
Tidings
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Building a Healthy Blue Economy Workforce
A vital workforce is central to a thriving blue economy. By equipping more people with the necessary skills to enter and succeed in that workforce, …
Perspectives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Collaborations Fuel Aquaculture Progress
With support from a wide network of collaborators, our Aquaculture team advanced three important projects this year, including a workforce development strategy, an entrepreneur development …
Perspectives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Aquaculture Impact
As part of our new strategic plan, aquaculture has emerged as an opportunity for us to accelerate the growth of a diverse seafood economy. Our …
Announcements
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Aquaculture 101
Aquaculture is quickly gaining popularity in our region, so we created a brief overview for you about what aquaculture is and its role in the …
Perspectives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Updates on Aquaculture
2018 was a year of partnerships, progress, and growth for our aquaculture team. We took on local infrastructure projects, state-level growth initiatives, and workforce development …
Perspectives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Sea State Recap: The Thriving Blue Economy
In this installment of the Sea State series at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), we delved into the complexities and opportunities of our …
Perspectives
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Aquaculture Analysis Shows Opportunity for Maine
In a report published this fall, our aquaculture program team announced important findings from their recently completed market analysis for farmed shellfish in Maine.
Tidings
General
View all General 
                            
                        
                        
                        New Report Evaluates Aquaculture Workforce Needs and Education Opportunities
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Aquaculture in Maine
 
                            
                        
                        
                        New aquaculture apprenticeship program for Mainers
 
                            
                        
                        
                        New directions for Maine's aquaculture industry
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Consultant sees huge growth potential for Maine aquaculture
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Maine has nation’s only Shellfish & Seaweed Aquaculture Apprenticeship programs
 
                            
                        
                        
                        South Portland to study aquaculture potential of city-owned pier
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Gulf of Maine Research Institute launches new aquaculture knowledge portal
Departments And Labs
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Developing the Blue Economy & Supporting Working Waterfronts
Revitalizing coastal communities by supporting traditional and emerging industries and protecting vital infrastructure.
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Supporting the Local Seafood Economy
We strengthen the Gulf of Maine seafood industry by bolstering regional market share for local, sustainable fish. We support both wild and farmed fisheries as …
 
                            
                        
                        
                        Economic Development Department
We collaborate with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and the business community to foster a resilient and sustainable regional marine economy.
 
                             
                             
                            