Bouchard on panel discussion of aquaculture in the Northeast

Deborah Bouchard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension aquatic animal health specialist and director of the UMaine Aquaculture Research Institute, presented an update on the aquaculture industry in Maine as part of a panel discussion on aquaculture in the Northeast. Hosted by the Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA), Bouchard was one of five aquaculture leaders presenting for the Feb. 1 webinar.

Bouchard discussed the value of a growing aquaculture industry in Maine that includes over $88.4 million in fish, shellfish and sea vegetables and 700 individuals employed at 190 farms (Maine Department of Marine Resources, 2020). Four species are currently grown at recirculating aquaculture systems in the state Atlantic salmon, American eel, brook trout, and amberjack. Bouchard also discussed the role of aquaculture workforce development in Maine, specifically UMaine ARI’s Certification in Applied Sustainable Aquaculture and their Industry Partnership Internship Program.