A new census from the US Department of Agriculture shows a growing number of aquaculture farms in Maine, though local experts caution that the data may not fully capture the industry’s scale.
Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, noted that not all operators respond to the USDA census, leading to an undercount. However, he said the survey reflects an overall upward trend, particularly among small farms operating under limited purpose aquaculture licenses (LPAs). Maine currently has about 700 LPAs, along with around 150 licensed marine farms and a dozen land-based facilities.
Jonathan Labaree from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute pointed out that recent growth has focused on a few species, particularly oysters and kelp, although there are also new farms in scallops and clams.
Despite this growth, Labaree emphasized the challenges facing new aquaculture operators, including the lengthy lease approval process, difficulty securing capital, and the need for workers with maritime experience. The Maine Aquaculture Association plans to release a detailed economic impact report in the coming year to further analyse the industry’s growth.
