Over the past decade, the University of New Hampshire has advanced small-scale, integrated aquaculture technologies involving steelhead trout, blue mussels, and sugar kelp in the Gulf of Maine. Each year of development has brought new biological insights, expanded market opportunities, and improved farming efficiencies. The UNH floating farm now serves as a platform for aquaculture education, workforce training, and demonstration, while also generating revenue from the sale of sustainably produced seafood.
This successful farm model and training platform has been adopted in the Gulf of America by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, AL and the University of Southern Mississippi. A third project is currently underway on the island of Saipan in partnership with Northern Marianas College.
This presentation will highlight the key steps required to establish and launch a small-scale aquaculture farm capable of providing fresh, locally grown seafood to coastal communities. Core actions involved in developing a farm include: 1. Community engagement, 2. Site selection, 3. Permitting and regulatory compliance, 4. Species selection, 5. Biological considerations and husbandry, 6. Environmental monitoring, 7. Farm deployment and maintenance, 8. Stocking and feeding strategies and 9. Harvesting, processing, and distribution to markets. Such farms create economic opportunities for fishers, family farmers, and entrepreneurs seeking to enter the seafood sector while supporting the preservation of working waterfronts.