The aquaculture of sea scallops in Maine has been developing for about 20 years. It offers new opportunities for former and existing commercial fishermen.
Scientific parties, the officers and crew of NOAA ships, and charter vessels log more than 300 days at sea monitoring and sampling from ships on the U.S. Northeast shelf.
The long-awaited 2022 Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition and Milford Aquaculture Seminar brought more than 500 aquaculture industry leaders, scientists, and ecosystem managers to Portland, Maine, in April.
The U.S. Northeast Shelf is one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems. Seafood production, commercial and recreational fishing, ocean-dependent jobs, and other services provided by the ecosystem are all being affected by a changing climate.
Enterprising fishermen have been developing sea scallop aquaculture in Maine with technology adapted from Japan. Recently, NOAA Fisheries scientists conducted a study to help with site selection.
