DMC to offer hands-on shellfish farming workshop in June

The University of Maine Darling Marine Center in Walpole will offer an intensive, hands-on shellfish farming workshop June 25–29.

The “Applied Methods in Shellfish Farming Workshop” is intended to familiarize participants with practical approaches to cultivate molluscs — including oysters, mussels, clams and scallops. Attendees will learn about hatchery methods and upweller and nursery systems, and will visit commercial oyster, mussel and clam farm grow-out operations.

An emphasis on identifying optimal aquaculture sites will include extensive use of instrumentation, GIS and field survey methods. Leasing, permitting and biosecurity regulations also will be covered.

Instructor Chris Davis has been involved with oyster aquaculture for more than 30 years. The founding partner of Pemaquid Oyster Co. is executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and is a School of Marine Sciences adjunct faculty member.

The five-day workshop costs $550; room and board are available at the DMC for an additional fee. More information and registration materials are on the summer workshops section of the DMC website. May 21 is the registration deadline.