Visit Choose a Business Structure Choose a Business Structure The business structure you choose influences everything from day-to-day operations, to taxes, to how much of your personal assets are at risk. You should choose a business structure that gives you the right balance of legal protections and benefits. 2020 U.S. Small Business Association
Visit Oyster Production Equipment Comparisons 2016–2018 Oyster Production Equipment Comparisons 2016–2018 The report provides information on commercially relevant aspects of oyster production gear associated with each equipment type employed including, BST™ Crosshatch, BST™ Longline, OysterGro, Rack and Bag, & Seapa™. They tracked oyster survival, growth by season, shell morphology, worm presence, and cost estimates. 2020 Maryland Sea Grant, University of Maryland
Visit Maine Sea Grant Maine Sea Grant Supporting marine science for Maine people focusing on Maine’s coastal communities, scientific research, and tomorrow's marine workforce. 2020 Maine Sea Grant, University of Maine
Visit Storm and Hurricane Preparedness for Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture Storm and Hurricane Preparedness for Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture Oyster aquaculture, like any agriculture operation, has inherent risks with perils beyond growers’ control. However, coastal waters present challenges for oyster farmers in the form of tropical storms and hurricanes. 2020 University of Florida/IFAS
Industry Perspective Starting a Farm in a New Area Starting a farm can be seem overwhelming especially in an area where it hasn't been done before. Here's how Bar Harbor Oyster Co. overcame their obstacles and created a successful business. Joanna and Jesse Fogg, business owners 2020
Visit Oyster Aquaculture Site Selection Using Landsat 8-Derived Sea Surface Temperature, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll a Oyster Aquaculture Site Selection Using Landsat 8-Derived Sea Surface Temperature, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll a Thesis paper explaining the work that went into creating the Oyster suitability Index. 2020 University of Maine
Visit Biofouling Control Strategies: A Field Guide for Maryland Oyster Growers Biofouling Control Strategies: A Field Guide for Maryland Oyster Growers Biofouling, or plants and animals that colonize oysters and/or cages, can affect profitability. This handbook reviews macroalgae, cushion moss, encrusting bryozoan, barnacles, false mussels, hooked mussels, slipper limpet, ghost anemone, sea squirts, boring sponge, red beard sponge, clam worms, mud worms, & whipworms. 2020 Maryland Sea Grant, University of Maryland Extension
Industry Perspective Why Restaurants May or May Not Buy Certain Oysters Direct from the chef's mouth — what he's looking for when buying an oyster for his restaurant. Michael Wiley, business owner/chef 2020
Visit How to Form an LLC in Maine How to Form an LLC in Maine Guidance on the five steps to form an LLC; chose a name, find a registered agent, file certificate of formation, create an operating agreement, and get an EIN. 2020 TRUiC
Visit Potential Gear Coatings as a Mitigation Technique for Invertebrate Predators of Aquacultured Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) Potential Gear Coatings as a Mitigation Technique for Invertebrate Predators of Aquacultured Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) This project aimed to identify a gear coating that deters and mitigates predation by oyster drills (Urosalpinx cinerea) and starfish (Asterias rubens) on aquaculture eastern oysters. Identifying potential strategies to mitigate starfish and oyster drill snail predation on eastern oysters could increase oyster survival, which would increase yield and revenue. 2020 Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center
Visit Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) Methods and Materials for Aquaculture Production of Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) In depth review of sea scallop biology, spat collection, nursery, grow out, gear, husbandry, site selection economic considerations and biotoxins/public health. 2020 Coastal Enterprises, Inc
Visit Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview Eastern Oyster Production in Maine: A Basic Overview An overview of oyster production techniques including nursery and husbandry, common gear used, and oyster biology. 2020 Maine Sea Grant
Visit Aquaculture Farm Financial Management During the Pandemic Aquaculture Farm Financial Management During the Pandemic Dr. Carole Engle, a specialist in aquaculture economics, gives an overview on how to survive during cash deficits using short-term cash management plans and determining how much debt is too much to take on by calculating the debt to asset ratio. 2020 Engle-Stone Aquatic$ LLC
Visit Jones Act Jones Act Established in 1920 and revised in 2006, the Jones Act is a federal statute for the United States that provides the laws and regulations for U.S. waters and ports. 2020 Maritime Injury Guide
Visit Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act Frequently Asked Questions to help employees and employers gain a general understanding of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) and its extension acts. 2020 U.S. Department of Labor
Visit Research, Development and Education Priorities for the Aquaculture Sector in Maine Research, Development and Education Priorities for the Aquaculture Sector in Maine This report is based on the research priorities survey conducted in June 2019 of Maine’s aquaculture community and is compared with surveys from 2012 and 2016 to look at trends. There have been some changes in the prioritization of needs since 2016, but many of the same research, development, and education (R&D&E) needs persist and remain unaddressed. As expected, there are different R&D&E priorities for different aquaculture sectors. 2020 Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center
Visit Kennebec River Biosciences Kennebec River Biosciences A global fish and shellfish health lab, we offer you top-quality diagnostics, import/export inspections, and veterinary solutions from consultation to custom vaccines. 2020 Kennebec River Biosciences
Visit Write a Business Plan Write a Business Plan Writing a strong business plan is important for any company as it provides a roadmap to success. The most important reason for writing a solid business plan is that it demonstrates to investors, financial institutions, and other lenders that you have a cohesive vision for your company. 2020 Maine Technology Institute
Visit Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for 2019 and Subsequent Years Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for 2019 and Subsequent Years Provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting. 2019 USDA Farm Service Agency
Visit Farm Loan Information Chart Farm Loan Information Chart Fact sheet outlining USDA loan programs, maximum loan amounts, rates, terms, and use of proceeds. 2019 USDA Farm Service Agency
Visit Market Analysis of Maine Farm-raised Sea Scallops Market Analysis of Maine Farm-raised Sea Scallops This report assesses the potential market environment for Maine farm-raised sea scallops including political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal/regulatory, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 2019 Coastal Enterprises, Inc., rbouvier consulting
Visit What Does the Oyster Consumer Want? What Does the Oyster Consumer Want? Reviews quality, consistency, cleanliness, food safety, shape, flavor, year-round availability, timely shipping, attractive packaging and a nice name. 2019 East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Visit The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals In-depth paper on the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 2018 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Visit Does a Flip-Bag System Produce a Better Eastern Oyster? Does a Flip-Bag System Produce a Better Eastern Oyster? Reviews tide–flipped bags or baskets ability to produce a more attractive and commercially valuable Eastern oyster for the half–shell market. Found that flip-bag oysters grow slower but had a wider fan, deeper cup, heavier shell, yielded more meat, were less fouled, and required less labor to maintain. 2017 East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Roger Williams University