BALTIMORE, MD – part of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, welcomed a community of aquaculture experts from both the U.S. and abroad during the 2nd annual SAS² Conference, held between October 17-20. This project in partnership with the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute, funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), highlighted the value of collaborative research and partnerships.

IMET Director, Russell Hill, set the stage, emphasizing the transformative potential of sustainable aquaculture, showcasing how the SAS² project champions responsible salmon practices nationwide. Project Director, Dr. Yonathan Zohar, noted the reality that the U.S. imports 90% of its salmon. Such a heavy reliance on international sources underscores the urgency to bolster domestic salmon production, ensuring a sustainable and self-reliant supply chain. 

Throughout the event, participants engaged in multidisciplinary discussions focusing on practical measures to reduce carbon footprints,  innovative uses of waste in aquaculture, and the nuances of land-based salmon farming. Comprehensive panels also touched on the intricacies of U.S. aquaculture permits, risk assessments, and off-flavor mitigation 

Leading the way in educational initiatives, Scarlet Tudor and an undergraduate student, Katarina Minas, from the Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) at the University of Maine provided attendees with an immersive experience via a virtual reality (VR) tour of 91����’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR). Through advanced imaging techniques, she showcased various facets of the facility, including her favorite, the lumpfish room. Minas envisions this VR tour as a critical tool for educators, enabling students from remote parts of Maine to learn about aquaculture and its career prospects.

Keynote speaker, Matthew Craze from Spheric Research, shed light on the shift in land-based aquaculture, spotlighting Norway’s adoption of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in salmon hatcheries and its innovative strides in supply chain management. Meanwhile, Daisy Berg from New Seasons Market shared a story of the Pacific Northwest’s evolution from a staunch wild salmon stronghold to recognizing the pivotal role of aquaculture innovations like RAS in sustaining wild salmon populations. Her insights challenged long-held perceptions and highlighted the synergy between traditional practices and modern innovations.

During the graduate student showcase, Halli Bair, an ARI student of Heather Hamlin, Director of the School of Marine Sciences, delved into her work focused on broodstock and offspring quality in Atlantic salmon. Her work aims to understand embryo survival rates in commercial hatcheries. This research could potentially reshape industry practices, offering an avenue to predict and improve fish performance early in the production lifecycle.

Culminating the conference, Steve Summerfelt from Superior Fresh and Steering Committee Chair of the SAS² project celebrated the collective ambition of attendees, articulating a unified vision: to solidify the U.S.’s position as a global leader in sustainable aquaculture. This conference not only celebrated past achievements but also set a clear goal for the U.S. aquaculture community, charting a path towards a sustainable and self-reliant future.

The beginning of May at the Darling Marine Center welcomes us with blooming birches, warmer sun, and the end of another academic year, giving graduate students the opportunity to present their research. This past week, more than 60 School of Marine Sciences graduate students, some affiliated with the Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI), gathered for a symposium in Brooke Hall to highlight innovative work in their fields of study. Presentations covered a wide range of topics, from genetics to environmental monitoring, demonstrating the diversity and depth of research conducted at ARI. Beyond the statistics and data, the research presented by these graduate students has a broader implication for climate change, environmental management, and environmental policy. With both warming waters and a growing aquaculture sector in Maine, it’s critical to understand our coastal ecosystem and the communities reliant upon them.

Shellfish research was the basis for many talks at the symposium as Chris Noren, Jamie Peterson, and Tom Kiffney focused on the future of scallops and oysters. Noren, one of Damian Brady’s students, discussed the importance of understanding how scallop growth oscillates with temperature and season for sustainable development of the sector. Peterson, a student of Paul Rawson and Kiffney, another student of Damain Brady both concentrated on oyster development. Kiffney discussed the difference between diploid and triploid oyster growth in the Damariscotta River. Triploid oysters, containing three sets of chromosomes instead of two (diploidy) are nearly sterile, allowing them to grow faster and larger, as energy is not spent on reproducing. Peterson spoke about oxylipins, looking at the impact they have on early stage development. Oxylipins, produced by marine diatoms, algae, and certain bacteria can cause abnormalities or be toxic to marine organisms. Understanding the detrimental impacts of oxylipins can provide useful information for larval rearing in hatcheries. Bobby Morefield, working in Heather Hamlin’s lab presented his work examining the role that sex pheromones can play in the mitigation of sea lice infestations on Atlantic Salmon. 

Impacts of climate change and aquatic animal health were also presented at the symposium. Kate Liberti and Rene Francolini, both working in the Brady lab, underscored the importance of understanding the ecology and oceanography of Maine’s coastline. Liberti talked about temporal and spatial differences in aragonite saturation in Casco Bay. Aragonite is a form of calcium carbonate, necessary for shellfish growth. Organisms may be stressed and have a harder time forming their shells when aragonite saturation levels fall below one. These lower levels of aragonite saturation are due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, so following the processes and changes impacting carbon dioxide can be useful as an indicator to understand how aragonite saturation state is changing in Casco Bay. Francolini spoke about kelp forests and understanding genetic connectivity of different populations along the coast. Genetic information at the population level can provide useful insight into how different populations of kelp will react to changing oceanic conditions. This baseline knowledge is imperative as kelp is an essential nursery habitat for many native species along Maine’s coastline. Another one of Brady’s students, Sydney Greenlee, honed in on early detection of harmful algal blooms (HABs) using environmental DNA (eDNA). Pseudo-nitzschia australis, a marine diatom, can cause the blooms which can result in amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans, as well as pose negative health impacts to marine mammals and seabirds. Prior methods made it challenging to distinguish between toxin and non-toxin producing Pseudo-nitzschia species. eDNA can serve as a rapid detection and quantification tool for these HABs, alerting managers to the presence of diatoms in their samples so they can close shellfish harvesting before toxins are present.

Kazu Temple’s, a student of Ian Bricknell, is looking into the parasitic relationship of Profilicollis botulus, a prevalent parasite in green crabs and the impact this may have on the native eider duck population. The European green crab, an invasive species posing challenges to shellfish growers and harvesters in the intertidal, is the host of the parasite Profilicollis botulus known as a “spiny-headed worm.” When other animals such as the eider duck eat green crabs, they also become infected. Knowledge of this parasitic interaction between green crabs and other organisms is useful, as green crabs have been suggested as bait for the lobster industry and can also provide informative data about the spread of green crabs as an invasive species across different regions in Maine.

The breadth and future impact of the research presented by these graduate students is impressive. This symposium serves as a reminder of the enormous potential this new generation of scientists has to shape the future of our marine ecosystems and coastal economies.

ORONO, Maine – The Aquaculture Research Institute has been awarded $2.25 million per year of congressional programmatic funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) for research on Recirculating Aquaculture Systems at the National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) represent an increasingly important technology in the field of aquaculture. These land-based culture systems not only boost production and strengthen domestic aquaculture, but also reduce dependence on coastal ecosystems and enhance resilience to changing environmental conditions. With innovative research and effective management, RAS operations have the potential to revolutionize the way we think about sustainable aquaculture. 

In conjunction with an existing USDA-ARS Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (NACA), this new funding will help establish ARI as a nationally recognized RAS research facility, focusing on shellfish and finfish species. Prioritized research includes the development of domestic broodstock, sustainable alternative feeds, the impacts of climate change, innovations in waste processing, reduction of environmental impacts, elimination of off-flavor compounds like geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), and overall more energy efficient systems at the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture (CCAR). 

“We’re committed to expanding our knowledge and expertise in RAS to culture fish and shellfish in a way that’s productive and profitable, while ensuring the highest standards of animal well-being. The goal here is to optimize production, efficiency and sustainability”  explains Deborah Bouchard, Director of the Aquaculture Research Institute. 

This $2.25 million in funding represents a significant investment not only for the future of the RAS industry but for workforce development as well. Several new full-time positions have been created through both ARI and USDA-ARS, enhancing infrastructure at CCAR and expanding the facility’s capabilities for cutting-edge research and development. 

“This will allow ARI and USDA to continue work on improving Atlantic salmon reproductive inefficiencies. Low eye-up rates have plagued the salmon industry for the past 15 years. A new reproductive physiologist will be hired that will address these inefficiencies. In addition, a new fisheries biologist will be hired that will address off-flavor and water quality as it relates to salmon grown in RAS,” says Brian Peterson, Director National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center.

Ultimately, this will lead to a more sustainable and profitable future for the domestic aquaculture industry while making high-quality protein more accessible. 

Through an Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) externship, 91���� Marine Science major Jess Cleary-Reuning is working for the in Rockland, ME. 

After serving as a granite quarry in the 1870’s and a base camp for Outward Bound from 1964 to 2006, Hurricane Island is now the site of the Center for Science and Leadership (HICSL). Since 2009, this educational center has been a home for adventurous students of all ages to learn about the natural world and sustainable, environmental practices. Cleary-Reuning’s mother visited Hurricane Island Outward Bound as a youth in the summer, so  exploring HICSL naturally interested Cleary-Reuning.

HICSL’s summer programs for adults, students and school groups provide participants with tools for leadership and social change. This summer, Cleary-Reuning works alongside Aquaculture Manager Madison Maier on the Island Ecology and Marine Ecology high school education programs. 

“Island Ecology focuses on freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Marine Ecology focuses o​​n the tidal zone, learning about the fisheries in the area and our aquaculture farm. Our aquaculture farm started as a Limited Purpose Aquaculture lease site (LPA), and in 2019, we expanded into a full, 3.2-acre experimental farm,” Maier says. 

The research farm contains an oyster long line and cages, lantern nets for Atlantic sea scallops, and a wooden platform, referred to as “The Float”, with bolted-down lab tables and a solar panel powering machinery for field work. Students in the Island Ecology and Marine Ecology programs have the opportunity to see the farm, learn how it operates, and observe marine invertebrates. 

These educational experiences gained from the summer programs provide training in multiple skills in aquaculture and marine ecosystems, and these are what Cleary-Reuning is observing for her externship. Working at HICSL, Cleary-Reuning gathers data to help the University of Maine Cooperative Extension create youth micro-credentials. 

To do this, Cleary-Reuning researched adult micro-credentials already being utilized in order to find ways to build youth micro-credentials. Adult micro-credentials involve a three-level program: level one is gaining knowledge and information from an instructor; level two is hands-on experience and applying knowledge; level three is certifying all experiences and knowledge in the real world. The micro-credential itself is a digital badge earned after the program’s completion and can be placed on an individual’s LinkedIn, Gmail, or resume.

“If you click on it, the micro-credential shows a webpage outlining exactly what that individual did to get that micro-credential. Name, date received, what work was completed, and skills learned and shown. I see it more as a personalized resume addition,” Cleary-Reuning says.

To build micro-credentials for youth, Cleary-Reuning is observing programs at HICSL and deciding which skills and knowledge could be applied to a micro-credential.  “I am looking at what we do with the kids and separating the activities between knowledge and skills. The aquaculture tour would be knowledge. Doing scallop measurements and sorting spat would be skills,” Cleary-Reuning says.

Observing education at HICSL has helped Cleary-Reuning define what youth micro-credentials could entail. This summer, students in the High School Marine and Ecology programs did small research projects involving skills such as organizing data, handling invertebrates, creating graphs and charts, writing hypotheses and presenting posters. Each of these skills will be part of a micro-credential for youths who want to study aquaculture or marin

e science in the future. Cleary-Reuning’s time on Hurricane Island allowed a large data set to form and help 91���� create micro-credentials for youths, all while giving Cleary-Reuning time to herself.

“I’ve been scuba diving and learned how to drive skiffs and tie knots. It’s just a really unique living and learning environment. There’s a lot of personal things that I am learning from living here too. It’s not a traditional internship,” Cleary-Reuning says.

Written by Meghan Nadzam

Glass eels– who would want to work with them? Probably someone who doesn’t find eels slimy, but “cute” instead. Carli Spada is that unique individual.

As a Marine Science major and Anthropology minor from Wilmington, MA, Spada never expected to find herself working in the field of aquaculture, but after becoming acquainted with such in her Animal Behavior class taught by Dr. Scarlett Tudor at 91����, she became interested. Tudor suggested the Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI) externship to Spada as a way to get experience before graduating, so she now works for, North America’s only eel farm. 

You may be wondering: What does American Unagi do differently when it comes to eel farming?

Glass eels are the second stage in the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) life cycle. They start as planktonic larvae after hatching and grow into miniature transparent eels, hence the glass part of their name. Glass eels travel from estuaries to upstream parts of rivers like the Damariscotta River. Upstream in rivers of North America, they grow into adults, or silver eels, and migrate back downriver to marine waters such as the Sargasso Sea to spawn.

Most American eels eaten today are caught in Maine at the glass eel stage, raised in Asia and then sent around the world to get to consumers’ plates. To avoid worldwide transport and use of antibiotics or hormones, American Unagi raises the eels in Maine from glass eels to silver eels. American Unagi’s goal is to demonstrate that eels can be grown locally in land-based systems and sold in the U.S. Along with encouraging traceability in seafood, raising eels in Maine connects consumers with coastal communities that harvest them. 

With support from students like Spada, American Unagi is one of the many aquaculture businesses benefiting from ARI’s externship. Students within and outside the 91���� community participate in the ARI externship program for 12 weeks and they are expected to complete a project as part of the experience. The student is assigned to work with an industry or non-profit host that is responsible for on-site job training, mentoring, and providing hands-on experience for the student. 

The ARI externship funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant for the Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon project (SAS2). The SAS2 brings together several academic and federal research institutions with industry partners with a long term goal of supporting a sustainable land-based U.S. Atlantic salmon industry through research, education and extension. The externs this year are placed at land-based aquaculture facilities or in salmon-related research projects.

ARI externships like Spada’s create industry connections that help shape 91����’s aquaculture outreach programming for all ages, from pre-K to senior citizens. 91����’s two most popular virtual programs, the and the , focus on teaching the skills sought by Maine’s aquaculture industry, skills that have been defined by these industry connections.

4-H Aquarium Club invites students 5-18 years old interested in aquaria life to a monthly meeting driven by the students who have questions about aquaculture and how to best care for their aquatic friends. 4-H Aquaponics Project is an experiential  learning program for ages 9-18 years old teaching introductory aquaponic systems and design, fish husbandry, aquaponic gardening, record-keeping, problem-solving, food safety, teamwork, science and math literacy.

Both programs are organized by ARI Education and Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Scarlett Tudor and Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR)’s Aquaculture Research and Education Program Coordinator, Melissa Malmstedt. 

“I think one of the most important things about our outreach program is that we are giving people multiple entry points and multiple ways of interaction. Not every learner is the same. Not every adult is going to listen to another adult, but if their kids are into it, then they may open up,” Tudor says.

The lessons taught in each program can come from companies like American Unagi, and that’s where Spada’s involvement begins.

Spada’s work focuses on creating informational pamphlets for outreach programs like those in 4-H that describe what American Unagi does to fuel the aquaculture and eel farming industries. 

Spada’s externship involves caring for the eels themselves. To maintain the eels, Spada feeds them daily, sweeps debris from the bottom of the tanks, and then tests the water quality for levels of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, salinity, and pH. Such skills are also taught in the 4-H programs.

“I did find a new fascination in aquaculture,” Spada says. “It’s very cool that I get to work in the only eel farm in the United States. Eels are probably a new interest for me as well.”

After Spada’s externship ends, the 4-H programs will continue its workforce development efforts using the resources she helped create. Spada will return to University of Maine to begin her senior year this fall. After that, her future is wide open.

“It’s quite possible I will go back to American Unagi after graduation,” Spada says.

By Meghan Nadzam

Stationed at in Walpole, ME for the summer of 2022, Meghan Nadzam is the first communications intern for University of Maine’s Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI).

As a communications intern, Nadzam meets with ARI interns for interviews and coordinates photo and video opportunities at various aquaculture businesses. Interviews cover all aspects of each research project: species of choice, how a topic relates to aquaculture in Maine, daily routine for the student.

While covering the students’ summer research projects in her interviews, Nadzam gets to do what she loves best: enjoy and explore the outdoors.

“I’ve always had such a fascination for nature. It can be overwhelming at times how much can go on in a small petri dish or sample of estuarine sediment,” Nadzam says.

Originally from Akron, OH, Nadzam graduated early from Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Marine Science in winter 2021. Nadzam hopes to attend graduate school to earn her Master’s degree in 2023 to pursue her current passions for Disease Ecology and Marine Conservation.

Her interest in science and communications evolved in Nadzam’s undergraduate years at in Springfield, OH. 

“I grew as a writer working at Wittenberg University’s newspaper, . Climbing the leadership ladder from reporter to Editor-in-Chief, I learned how to cover breaking news and how to formally interview faculty,” Nadzam says.

Wittenberg University‘s motto is, “Having Light, We Pass it On to Others.” Nadzam likes to carry those words with her as she works with the various ARI interns because she values the importance of passing knowledge on for future marine enthusiasts.

“I love to share the work of others and pass on what little stories I come upon. Especially when topics revolve around something that the intern and I find super cool, then it’s even more fun! We get to geek out together, bounce ideas off one another, and just marvel at the fact that we’re here, at the DMC, doing research about things we’re passionate about,” Nadzam says. “If it came down to it and an intern needed help in the field for a sample collection, my camera would go back in the bag. I love to get my hands dirty and work with critters, especially invertebrates. I’m here for the spontaneity.”