{"id":6801,"date":"2023-07-25T15:09:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T19:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/aquaculture\/?p=6801"},"modified":"2023-07-25T15:09:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T19:09:12","slug":"research-spotlight-maines-emerging-scallop-aquaculture-sector-reinforced-by-brady-lab-ph-d-student-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/aquaculture\/2023\/07\/25\/research-spotlight-maines-emerging-scallop-aquaculture-sector-reinforced-by-brady-lab-ph-d-student-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Spotlight: Maine\u2019s Emerging Scallop Aquaculture Sector Reinforced by Brady Lab Ph.D. Student Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This summer, University of Maine Ph.D. student Chris Noren<\/a> leads the third year of Atlantic sea scallop data collection in Damian Brady’s lab<\/a>, an affiliate faculty member of the Aquaculture Research Institute<\/a>. The wild scallop catch was valued at $488 million in 2020, rivaling lobster ($563 million) and exceeding salmon ($478 million)<\/a>. The rise of domestic & sustainable seafood as an increasingly desirable and necessary product, naturally compels the scallop industry to develop farmed counterparts as efficiently as possible. Until then, the supply-demand gap increases, leading the Brady Lab to develop sustainable industry practices for an emerging US aquaculture subsector, beginning with culture methods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lantern nets are the US industry standard, at least for suspended culture. They boast some advantages to bottom culture, namely a faster growth rate.<\/a> Still, lantern nets have their limitations. Farming shellfish is backbreaking labor, with biofouling, sediment, and gear itself contributing to a weight hovering around 300 lbs. Most days, you can see the process in action, with Noren and his interns Ruth Havener and Gary Moline going between the experimental farm and the processing station on their floating dock (affectionately named Norman). Their routine is a good reminder of why a collaborative team makes all the difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the off-season, Havener studies at Duke University. However, she comes from a Maine family with multigenerational ties to the lobster industry. Life on the water has always been a cornerstone for her, but she did not realize her passion for Maine aquaculture until she meditated on life outside of the state. Aside from asserting \u201cscallops are the best-tasting seafood,\u201d Havener values their intersection with eDNA research. \u201cI\u2019m doing this internship to learn more about the aquaculture industry and its practices so I can apply it to my future career.\u201d When Moline is away from his marine biology program at the University of Maine, he calls Belfast home. What began as a recreational diving trip in Mexico bloomed into \u201ca whole new world\u201d of possibility. Hands-on experience solidified his pathway during his time in ARI\u2019s Aquatic Animal Health course. Each has a unique aquaculture background, but both Ruth and Gary ultimately share the desire to stay connected to the water.<\/p>\n\n\n