Maine aquaculture sales rise 44% over decade

Aquaculture sales in the US state of Maine increased by 44% between 2014 and 2023, according to a new economic contribution report released by the Maine Aquaculture Association.

The study found that sales reached $105.9 million in 2023, up from $73.4 million in 2014. Over the same period, the value of Maine aquaculture landings grew at an average rate of around 5% per year.

The sector, which includes shellfish, seaweed and farmed finfish such as salmon and trout, now employs more than 1,700 people statewide, according to the association.

“We’re not just growing seafood—we’re growing small businesses, careers, knowledge, innovation, and community resilience,” said Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association. “This sector supports young people staying in Maine, fishermen diversifying their income, and families feeding their communities with fresh, local food.”

The report was developed by Maine Aquaculture Association economist Christian Brayden in partnership with the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Atlantic Corporation, Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University.

It highlights the growth of businesses such as Glidden Point Oyster Farms, based on the Damariscotta River. Ryan McPherson purchased the farm in 2016, when it employed three to four seasonal workers. Today, the company employs 22 year-round staff and an additional 15 people during the summer.

“Maine aquaculture grew the right way,” said McPherson. “It didn’t boom. It was built slowly, carefully, with farmers who care about their communities and the waters they’re working in.”

Glidden Point has remained on roughly the same 26-acre lease area since McPherson acquired the business, but oyster production has increased by an average of 20% per year. McPherson attributed the growth to increased staffing and more efficient farming practices.

The association said Maine is well placed to continue growing its aquaculture sector, citing the state’s cold, clean waters, skilled coastal workforce and proximity to more than 150 million consumers within a day’s drive.

“We’re optimistic about where this industry is going,” McPherson said. “This isn’t a tech startup. We’re farmers. Growth here is hard-won, season by season, and that’s exactly what makes it rewarding.”