Resources Database

Cash flow problems are one of the most common types of financial problems in aquaculture businesses. This publication, written by Dr. Carole Engle, a specialist in aquaculture economics, addresses the question of whether the business can generate enough cash when needed to pay its bills (liquidity). Liquidity is a fairly broad concept, and a number of financial indicators can be used to measure it. Of these, the cash flow statement is the most useful means of monitoring the liquidity of a business.

Lists contact information for DMR’s aquaculture program staff who are located in Augusta and the Boothbay Harbor Lab.

After purchasing used shellfish production equipment, it is strongly recommended to thoroughly clean and disinfect the gear prior to use to limit the risk of introducing disease or invasive species. An easy-to-use process is as follows:

The comprehensive financial analysis of aquaculture businesses requires that three key aspects of financial management be evaluated: financial position, profitability, and liquidity/cash flow position. Profitability is the difference between total revenue and total cost. It must be analyzed separately from financial position and liquidity/cash flow. This publication written by Dr. Carole Engle, a specialist in aquaculture economics, discusses profitability as measured from income statements and enterprise budgets.

Reviews the benefits of developing a biosecurity plan and a step-by-step outline on how to develop a plan that will protect your farm from disease-causing organisms or pathogens.

In depth document created to provide the information and a framework that will enable a shellfish farmer to write a comprehensive Best Management Practices document focusing on gear/operation and maintenance, user conflicts, permitting/siting, and environmental concerns.

Matt Parker, aquaculture business specialist, presents basic business concepts such as writing a business plan, developing pro forma statements, costs associated production, and record keeping to determine the costs of production.

An ID guide to organisms commonly found in, on, and around oyster grow bags ​and other aquaculture equipment used in the Gulf of Maine and North Atlantic.

Facilitating economic growth for Maine's farmed shellfish businesses. This project has produced two data-driven, quantitative market assessments to inform industry leaders and business owners about the potential scale and scope of markets for farmed shellfish and to facilitate strategic growth in the industry. The most recent report was completed in 2023 and published in 2024.

A list of current aquaculture training programs offered in Maine.

This directory aims to identify available sources of seaweed (macroalgae) seed for cultivation in the United States. The directory includes facility contact information, available species, and other factors related to seaweed seed sources. Updated annually, this directory will serve as a valuable resource to current and prospective farmers, regulatory authorities, and researchers across the country. Please note, this directory only reflects facilities that have chosen to opt-in, and therefore, is not a complete list of all sources.

In September 2023 the ECSGA updated its 2010 Best Management Practices manual. Building on the 2010 version, this update adds a new section on the management and handling of floating gear, hundreds of embedded links, info on new gear types and a revised bibliography. ECSGA also completely revamped the tool to create your own farm-specific Best Practices document: the Best Practices Form.

The UMaine Aquaculture Research Insitute has created a Research Portal in which you can look up aquaculture research happening in Maine by focus area, PI, funding source, timeline or keyword.

This guide was created to help the emerging seaweed industry understand the prevailing regulatory requirements surrounding the production of seaweeds as food. There are currently two regulations that are being used to regulate seaweeds at either the federal or state level: the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (GMP/PCHF) regulation and the Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point regulation. This guide will help the reader understand the similarities and differences between the two regulations and help the reader understand how their operation might be regulated.

The Maine Aquaculture Financing Resources Manual, developed by MAA Project Manager Christian Brayden with support from FocusMaine, is an in-depth summary of all known financing resources available to Maine aquaculture producers.

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, in collaboration with The World Wildlife Fund, is on a mission to get educational resources about seaweed aquaculture into Maine’s 5th-grade classrooms. During the summer and fall of 2023, we will distribute With a Little Kelp from Our Friends– a book on the secret life of seaweed written by Mathew Bate and illustrated by Liz Rowland– to educators. The book will be accompanied by teacher resources to increase literacy about seaweed aquaculture.

University of Maryland Extension, Maryland Sea Grant, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance are proud partners for “Seed to $$$” - a program for those in aquaculture to learn to manage their businesses for more profit. The US has experienced rapid economic growth in the last few years. This was due to increased spending designed to stimulate the economy in the wake of the pandemic. Recordings of the 8 presentations from the Seed to $$$ meeting are now available for viewing.

List of the over 200 harbor masters and deputy harbor masters in The State of Maine Harbor Masters Association.

This report addresses biofouling management in relation to marine aquaculture industry operations, equipment and infrastructure. It covers shellfish, finfish and seaweed operations in estuaries and seawater. It does not address freshwater aquaculture activities.

Answers questions like "What can I grow?", "How much space can I occupy?" "How long does a lease or license last?", "How much will it cost?", "What type of gear can I use?", and more.

This DMR page includes LPA License Applications for new LPAs, Riparian List form, Additional Information to assist in completing LPA license application forms, Sample Gear Plans and Vicinity Maps, Sample Mooring Designs, LPA Laws and Regulations, and LPA and Quiz Supporting Documents.