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 Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing Public Participation in Aquaculture Leasing DMR welcomes and encourages comment on aquaculture lease applications. This explains the process, scoping sessions, submitting a comment, speaking at a public hearing and more. 2020 Maine DMR Division of Aquaculture
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
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
Industry Perspective Being a Good Aquaculture Lease Applicant Tips on getting through the lease hearing process from a veteran oyster farm owner. Bill Mook, business owner 2020
Visit Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested Verification Report Kelp (multiple species) Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested Verification Report Kelp (multiple species) Kelp offers a promising way for fishermen to diversify their income streams in the lobster offseason, and it's also the newest seafood product GMRI verified under their Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested® label. The Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested® label is a promise that seafood hails from the clean, cool waters of the Gulf of Maine and the fishery or farm is managed in a way that contributes to the long-term health of the resource. The label empowers consumers to buy seafood they can feel good about. 2020 Gulf of Maine Research Institute
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 Mussel Sector: Maine in 2020 Mussel Sector: Maine in 2020 Overview of how Pemaquid Mussel Farms reached their development goal of a 5 fold increase in production within 10 years to $15 million annually using new technology and business planning. 2020 Carter Newell, Pemaquid Mussel Farms
Visit Maine Seaweed Council Maine Seaweed Council The Maine Seaweed Council strives to protect the ecosystems of Maine’s marine algae and adhere to sustainable cultivation and harvest practices, promote the use of Maine seaweeds, educate the public, regulators, and elected officials, and provide a collaborative forum for its members. 2020 Maine Seaweed Council
Visit Conduct of Aquaculture Lease Hearings Conduct of Aquaculture Lease Hearings Fact sheet on aquaculture lease hearings which are an adjudicatory hearing. It also includes the criteria for issuing aquaculture leases. 2020 Maine DMR Division of Aquaculture
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 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 FAQs- Public Lease Hearing FAQs- Public Lease Hearing Explains how to participate in a hearing, testimony, questions, public support or opposition, intervenor, and after the hearing. 2019 Maine DMR Division of Aquaculture
Visit Goods and Services of Marine Bivalves Goods and Services of Marine Bivalves The aim of this open access book is to review and analyze the goods and services of bivalve shellfish. 2019 Springer Link
Visit Shellfish Aquaculture is GOOD for the Environment! Shellfish Aquaculture is GOOD for the Environment! This brochure explains the benefits of shellfish aquaculture for the environment including improving water quality, increasing species diversity, removing excess nitrogen, and not needing fertilizers, chemicals, or antibiotics. 2018 East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, Rhode Island Sea Grant
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 ASW Aquaculture in Maine ASW Aquaculture in Maine A brief overview of what aquaculture is, why people do it, and how people do it in Maine. 2016 Aquaculture in Shared Waters
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