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 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
Visit Seafood HACCP Online Training Course Seafood HACCP Online Training Course This Internet-based training program was developed by the National Seafood HACCP Alliance—a group comprised of federal and state agencies with responsibility for seafood safety inspections, Sea Grant and university seafood science professionals, and seafood industry representatives. This training curriculum has two segments. Segment One is the Seafood HACCP Internet course. Those who complete the Internet course are eligible to attend a one-day Segment Two course taught by an Alliance instructor. 2020 Cornell Cooperative Extension, NY Sea Grant, Seafood HACCP Alliance
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 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 Guidance to Maine oyster farmers on selling your product in-state Guidance to Maine oyster farmers on selling your product in-state Summarizes some simple ways that holders of a valid Maine Aquaculture License can get their shellfish to market. 2019 Maine Sea Grant
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
Visit Farm Loans Overview Farm Loans Overview Overview of the different types of farm loans you can get from the USDA such as FSA farm loan, farm ownership loan, farm operating loan, conservation loans and more. 2017 USDA Farm Service Agency
Visit Shellfish Biosecurity: Risks, Management & Best Practices Bivalve Shellfish Physiology, Pathogens, Diseases Shellfish Biosecurity: Risks, Management & Best Practices Bivalve Shellfish Physiology, Pathogens, Diseases Presentation on oyster pathogens and diseases such as MSX, SSO, dermo, and Vibrio, testing protocols, long-term management, oyster predators & pests, the difference bewteen infection and disease, disese prevention, biosecurity, risk evaluation, pathogen surveillance, and zonation. 2016 Kennebec River Biosciences
Visit Growing Your Aquaculture Business: Expanding or Diversifying Growing Your Aquaculture Business: Expanding or Diversifying Dr. Carole Engle, a specialist in aquaculture economics, discusses growing your aquaculture businesses: whether should you expand or diversify and what conditions should you consider doing so. This will help you determine if is it the right time to expand your business, increase production, or move into new markets. 2015 Engle-Stone Aquatic$ LLC, National Aquaculture Association
Visit The Business of Aquaculture The Business of Aquaculture Reviews the keys to running a successful business; the four P's of marketing, wholesale distributors, risks, and sales. 2015 Aquaculture in Shared Waters
Visit Mud Blister Worms and Oyster Aquaculture Mud Blister Worms and Oyster Aquaculture Report on the mud blister polychaete worm, Polydora websteri, including a description, life history, settlement, burrowing, treatments, and biosecurity. 2015 Maine Sea Grant, University of Maine