Just Added: 7 Essential Aquaculture Resources from Maine Sea Grant

We’ve grown our Resource Library yet again with seven new high-quality resources from Maine Sea Grant. These publications cover a wide range of topics from purchasing shellfish and growing sea urchins to kelp and scallop farming.

Whether you’re a grower, educator, policymaker, or just aquaculture-curious, this new collection offers something for everyone.

📚 What’s New in the Library?

1. Roadmap for Aquaculture in Maine 2022 – 2032
A vision-setting document produced by Maine Sea Grant and partners, this roadmap identifies barriers and opportunities for aquaculture development through 2032. Emphasizes sustainability, equity, and workforce development.
📥 Download the Aquaculture Roadmap (PDF)

2. The Maine Shellfish Handbook
A cornerstone for municipal shellfish management in Maine. This comprehensive guide details the biology, harvesting, and co-management of soft-shell clams, oysters, hard clams, and mussels. Includes extensive sections on habitat enhancement, regulation, and community engagement.
📥 Download the Handbook (PDF)

3. Green Sea Urchin Aquaculture in the Northeast US
Outlines hatchery, nursery, and grow-out techniques for this high-value species. Includes insights on tank systems, predator control, and co-culture with other species like kelp or bivalves.
📥 Download the Green Sea Urchin Guide (PDF)

4. Kelp Farming Factsheet & FAQ
A beautifully designed visual guide explaining how kelp is grown in Maine, what you’ll see at a farm site, and how kelp contributes to climate resilience, local food systems, and water quality.
📥 Download the Kelp Factsheet (PDF)

5. Scallop Aquaculture Factsheet & FAQ
A companion to the kelp sheet, this guide walks through how farmed scallops are grown, including diagrams of lantern nets and grow-out stages. Also covers ecological impacts and siting considerations.
📥 Download the Scallop Factsheet (PDF)

6. Purchasing Shellfish Factsheet
A quick-reference guide to help restaurants and retail buyers ensure legal and safe shellfish sourcing. It explains the difference between certified dealers and enhanced retail licenses—critical for those serving raw product.
📥 Download the Factsheet (PDF)

7. Maine Oysters
A richly illustrated overview of oyster farming practices in Maine—from floating cages to bottom culture—along with the history and ecological benefits of the American oyster.
📥 Download the Maine Oysters Guide (PDF)

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💡 Why It Matters

Maine Sea Grant continues to produce practical, research-backed materials that directly support aquaculture practitioners and coastal communities. By archiving these resources in the AIE Library, we aim to:

• Improve access to aquaculture education and planning tools
• Support safe harvesting and purchasing
• Promote best practices for kelp, oysters, sea urchins, and other aquaculture species

🔍 Browse the Full Collection in the AIE Resource Library
These new Maine Sea Grant resources join a growing collection of over 100 aquaculture materials available on the Aquaculture Information Exchange. The AIE Resource Library brings together educational guides, research articles, datasets, newsletters, and online tools—all in one place.

Our goal is to consolidate aquaculture materials from across the web and make them easier to find, share, and use. Whether you’re a farmer, educator, policymaker, or curious learner, the AIE Library is built to support your work and strengthen the American aquaculture community.

📝 Have a resource of your own to contribute? Use our Upload Resource form or email us at admin@aquainfoexchange.org.

💬 Found something helpful? Let others know by posting your thoughts on the AIE.