Maine’s Island Institute is accepting applications for its 2020 Aquaculture Business Development (ABD) programme and is looking to support the state’s coastal and island residents who are keen to start mussel, oyster or seaweed aquaculture businesses within the next two years.
The programme is particularly suitable for commercial fishers who are looking to diversify their businesses.
As the institute stated in a press release: “Along with the familiarity of working in a marine environment, lobstering and other commercial fishing trades already have the experience of operating a business. In addition, starting a complementary business can absorb the impacts of potential changes in the lobster industry. Studies indicate that Maine’s growth potential in aquaculture is substantial, highlighting that the Maine oyster industry could triple in size, and the mussel industry could grow six-fold, between 2015 and 2030. In addition, preliminary data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources indicate that farmed seaweed production grew five-fold in 2019.”
