Seafood and Aquaculture

Maine’s abundant coastline provides opportunities for a wide range of food production in the marine environment. Aquaculture (including seaweed, oysters, mussels, and fish) is an important complement to the longstanding and prolific lobstering and fishing practices. The Domestic Trade Pilot Program created a comprehensive look at the Food, Seafood, Wholesale Food, and Food Manufacturing sector in this report: A comprehensive report on Agriculture, Seafood, Food Manufacturing and Wholesale (PDF).

Resources

#EatMaineSeafood - Anyone can easily join the #EatMaineSeafood campaign. The Maine Aquaculture Association is working with the Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association to encourage seafood consumers, producers, restaurants, industry groups, and other stakeholders to use the hashtag across their social media platforms. Join the campaign by using the hashtag on your own social media.

Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy is a responsive network of companies, organizations and individuals dedicated to the growth of a vibrant marine economy for Maine. Our mission is to ensure that Maine seafood, fishing and aquaculture industries and the natural and innovation ecosystems on which they depend are healthy and benefit Maine people and communities.

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) provides advising and financing to fisheries and aquaculture businesses to improve their long-term viability, create and maintain quality jobs, safeguard marine-related infrastructure and environments, and help preserve the cultural integrity of Maine’s working waterfront.

• Maine Seafood Marketing Initiative - CEI’s comprehensive plan to make Maine’s seafood industry more domestically competitive and better equipped for the future.
   
• Island Institute provides grants, loans and technical assistance to marine businesses to support their longevity and to improve their resilience to climate and economic disruption.

Maine Accelerates Growth (MxG) - Funding for innovative and entrepreneurial companies, with initial funding awarded in the following areas: 1) programs & events that support increased capital, market access, and/or talent access; or 2) that build upon Maine's innovative and entrepreneurial culture.

Maine Aquaculture Association is a non-profit trade association that represents the Maine aquaculture industry at the state, federal, and international levels. Our members grow shellfish, fin fish, and sea vegetables.

• Maine Aquaculture Business Planning Tools. This is a comprehensive reference site for all of MAA’s tools including distribution mapping, financing resources, and marketing materials.

Maine Center for Entrepreneurs

• MCE Top Gun Program - A 15 week learning experience and competition for entrepreneurs with the desire to grow. The winner(s) gets a check for $25,000.

• MCE Cultivator Program - Hurdle strategic barriers and expand your business to scale with Maine’s first food, beverage, and agriculture scale-up accelerator program.

• MCE MarketShare Accel Program - Value-added producers can gain access to industry/market data, professional coaching, and tailored assessments to better understand their business and its needs.

• *NEW* August 2023 -  MCE FoodTech Maine Program - The FoodTech Maine program connects and fosters collaboration among early-stage and mid-sized companies with a product or service that utilizes technology, innovation, or science in the AgriFood industry.

Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association - MCFA is an industry-led non-profit that works on behalf of the community-based fishermen of Maine. Their goal is to ensure that Maine’s fishing communities can thrive today, tomorrow, and forever.

Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory - In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased demand for local produce and seafood has resulted in adaptive farm-to-table strategies across the state. To expand consumer access to your operation, add your listing to this interactive producer map presented by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative helps support businesses, showcase the people behind lobster, and grow the fishery.

Seafood from Maine - A marketing and PR program with the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

Grants & Loans

Buoy Maine Competition - Opportunity for businesses and non-profits to pitch their ideas and innovations to support coastal communities for awards of up to $15,000. 

NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program - Finances projects that uplift fishing communities, keep working waterfronts functional, and build & maintain sustainable fisheries for economic betterment. 

NOAA Sea Grant - Funding for multiple kinds of marine projects, all with the goal of building the foundation of U.S. seafood and aquaculture operations and their surrounding communities. Click the link to check the availability of current funding opportunities.

SBIR/STTR Technical Assistance Program (TAP) - If you’re in need of high-risk, early stage technology financing, MTI’s TAP program offers funding and technical assistance to help you craft your winning proposal.

USDA Value Added Producer Grant - Helps value-added producers enter value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products, via generating new products, developing and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income.