The Deep Trekker Pivot ROV, purchased with a grant from the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, has significantly streamlined DMR's evaluation of aquaculture lease applications.
The Department of Marine Resources (DMR)
The Aquaculture Division of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has acquired a new Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to streamline the evaluation of aquaculture lease applications.
In 2023, DMR first acquired an ROV to save time on lease site evaluations. It has now been replaced with a new model, thanks to a $51,024 contribution from the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC).
According to data provided by DMR, in 2022, before implementing the ROV, DMR completed 20 site visits, while in 2023 and 2024, with the ROV, DMR completed 52 site visits annually.
Additionally, the Deep Trekker Pivot frees up staff to focus on other necessary tasks, such as writing site reports. DMR estimates that the ROV has saved approximately 600 staff hours in the Aquaculture Division.
"The data collected is easily integrated into written reports, reducing the overall time staff spend drafting and refining them, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks," detailed the Director of DMR's Aquaculture Division, Amanda Ellis.
Finally, MAIC Executive Director Anne Langston Noll thanked DMR's Aquaculture Division for their willingness to explore the use of new technologies: "This new ROV represents our commitment to fostering innovation in Maine's aquaculture sector, ensuring that our industry can grow sustainably."
In July, the state of Maine signed three new laws to strengthen the aquaculture sector. The measures, sponsored by Democrat state legislator Morgan Rielly, address concerns around aquaculture lease renewals, local opposition to aquaculture sites, and planning for future infrastructure needs along the coast.
