Deborah Bouchard

Deborah Bouchard is the Director of the University of Maine’s Aquaculture Research Institute and an Associate Professor of Aquatic Animal Health with UMaine’s Cooperative Extension. She has over 30 years of combined public and private sector experience in aquaculture diagnostics, research and industry collaborations. Her research focuses on contributing to new knowledge and enhancing aquaculture and marine fisheries health, production and economic development critical to sustainable Maine food systems. She has established strong collaborations with Maine Sea Grant, the Lobster Institute, the School of Marine Sciences, the School of Food and Agriculture, the Maine State Department of Marine Resources, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and other state and national programs that support sustainable aquaculture and fisheries.

Dr. Bouchard is the Project Leader for the Aquatic Animal Health Division of the UMaine Cooperative Extension Diagnostic Research Laboratory. She is experienced at managing large projects from the design phase to completion, skilled at relationship building with clients and across organizations and extension teams, and adept at assessing needs and implementing solutions in collaboration with stakeholders.  Her research advances R&D in aquatic animal feeds, vaccines, therapeutic agents and feed supplements for aquaculture and marine resource industries, both nationally and internationally.