PORTLAND, MAINE (July 10, 2023) — Maine now boasts the Nation’s only Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture Technician registered apprenticeship program, and a new state-certified aquaculture pre-apprenticeship program.
These two experiential learning programs are intentionally connected to create a clear career pathway into Maine’s aquaculture sector. These programs will help address a critical workforce shortage faced by many aquaculture businesses, which has the potential to stunt the sector’s tremendous growth potential.
“These new, certified aquaculture apprenticeship programs are a result of years of accomplishments steadily building upon each other through the power of partnerships and strategic efforts and investments,” said Andrea C. Maker, Co-chair of FocusMaine. “Maine has developed a reputation for exceptional leadership and pioneering spirit in the field of aquaculture.”
The Aquaculture Pioneers program, a joint effort of Educate Maine and FocusMaine, was launched in 2022 with grant support from the Builders Initiative. In 2023, with additional support from Jobs for the Future, Aquaculture Pioneers was officially recognized as the first-ever certified pre-apprenticeship program by the Maine Department of Labor’s Maine Apprenticeship Program.
“Builders is proud to be a supporter of the Aquaculture Pioneers Program in Maine,” said Peter Bryant, Oceans Program Director for Builders Initiative. Empowering a new wave of aquaculturists who understand and embrace the potential of restorative aquaculture is paramount for the health of our oceans and the resilience of our food systems.”
The program connects pre-apprentices with employers across the downeast, mid-coast, and southern coastal regions for 10-12 weeks of mentored and paid work experience at a Maine aquaculture farm, hatchery, or business. Currently, 19 pre-apprentices are working on 18 aquaculture farms along the coast. The program reimburses employers for the cost of the pre-apprentices wages. Additional perks of the program include a 2-day in-person bootcamp for pre-apprentices led by sector leaders which includes introductory boat safety and knot-tying training as well as participation in Maine Career Catalyst, a summer professional development program, and a ticket to the Annual Student Symposium for the Advancement of Maine’s Blue Economy.
“Pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs provide workers with unique opportunities to discover and explore the aquaculture sector in a structured, experiential way. Individuals can participate regardless of whether they’ve previously been in the industry,” said Kate Howell, Director of Workforce Partnerships at Educate Maine. “Through paid work experience, pre-apprentices and apprentices receive real-world training under a subject matter expert, make valuable connections, and discover for themselves what a career in Maine aquaculture is really like and what kinds of opportunities they can pursue in the future”
Madeline Point Oyster joined the Aquaculture Pioneers as an employer partner this year. Thomas Henninger, Founder, noted, “Our farm has benefited tremendously from hosting a pre-apprentice through the Aquaculture Pioneers program. We are committed to supporting and investing in young professionals to develop and grow the future of Maine’s aquaculture industry, and this program does that really well.”
Michael Scannell, an Aquaculture Pioneers Pre-apprentice working this summer at Madeline Point Oyster agrees, “The hands-on experience I’ve gained working at Madeleine Point Oyster Farms this summer as a pre-apprentice has had a huge impact on me. Working at Madeleine Point Oyster Farms has shown me that aquaculture is truly the future for harvesting the seas in a more sustainable way. It’s exciting to see all of the ventures popping up within my home state, which makes me feel like I don’t have to travel far in order to find a career on the water.”
The Aquaculture Pioneers pre-apprenticeship is directly connected to the Maine Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture Apprenticeship program that launched this spring. Sponsored by the Maine Aquaculture Association in partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Educate Maine with funding support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), this 2,000-hour paid apprenticeship program offers Maine Department of Labor certified apprenticeships at five farms across the midcoast and southern Maine.
Over a span of one year, apprentices gain industry-specific skills through a combination of on-the-job learning/mentorship and 144 hours of classroom education at Southern Maine Community College. Learning outcomes include organizational and safety protocols; vessel and vehicle operation; use and maintenance of tools and equipment; shellfish and seaweed production, management, and health, and food safety and regulation.
“Apprentices, including former commercial fishermen, have moved from as far as California and Alaska to capitalize on this first-of-its-kind opportunity to build a career in aquaculture in Maine,” said Christian Brayden, Project Manager at Maine Aquaculture Association. “The unique blend of on-the-job training, classroom education, and mentorship presents apprentices with an unparalleled dive into the world of Maine aquaculture.”
These pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs are built from long-standing partnerships between these organizations and joint works. The apprenticeship programs were designed using the Occupational Standards for Maine Aquaculture Training Providers, developed by an earlier collaboration designed and sponsored by FocusMaine between Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Aquaculture Association, and Educate Maine.
Brayden added, “The occupational standards have received high praise for setting the first standard in U.S. aquaculture. They are being reproduced and implemented in states with aquaculture across the country, where they will serve as guides for further workforce development.”
Similarly, the Maine Aquaculture Workforce Development Strategy, an in-depth analysis that document the current and future labor needs of Maine’s growing and developing aquaculture sector, charted the course for Maine to establish a comprehensive workforce training system.
“The launch of the aquaculture apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs are a pivotal milestone that aligns with and realizes the goals outlined in the Maine Aquaculture Workforce Strategy,” said Carissa Maurin, Aquaculture Program Manager of Gulf of Maine Research Institute. “These apprenticeship programs mark a transformative step forward, bridging the gap between the workforce demand and supply, creating a talent pipeline that will not only bolster the growth of businesses but also ensure the long-term success of the industry as a whole.”
FocusMaine is a statewide economic development organization that works to create quality jobs and build a thriving workforce. With an emphasis on innovation and future readiness, FocusMaine works in partnerships to accelerate Maine’s food economy and bioeconomy. Together, we are generating opportunity and prosperity for Maine’s people, businesses, and communities. For more information, visit www.focusmaine.org.
Educate Maine champions career readiness by increasing the educational attainment of Maine people, enabling all students to succeed in postsecondary education and in the workplace. As a business-led education advocacy organization, Educate Maine administers four signature programs with key partners: Maine Teacher of the Year Program, Project>Login, Education Leaders Experience, and Maine Career Catalyst.
ABOUT MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION:
The Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA) est. 1978, is a nonprofit trade association that advocates for and unites Maine’s finfish, shellfish, and sea vegetable farmers in collaboration with commercial fishing colleagues. MAA’s mission is to support the state’s aquatic growers in developing economically and environmentally sustainable business practices, to promote the benefits of aquaculture in the local food system, and to preserve Maine’s heritage of a vibrant working waterfront.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. Located in Portland, ME, the institute is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.gmri.org.