GARDINER, MAINE, August 14th, 2024 — The Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine (Kat) Lipp to the role of Community Engagement Coordinator. This new position is vital to MAA’s ongoing efforts to support sea farmers in becoming successful business owners, stewards of the environment, and valued additions to the working waterfront.
Lipp will focus on establishing a coastal ambassador network and developing intensive social license training for growers. “Social license” is defined as the informal, ongoing support granted by the community for a project, which remains a crucial aspect of Maine’s aquaculture leasing system. This requires farmers to lay significant community engagement groundwork to receive approval from the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and operate on their sites. The Ambassador Program aims to develop essential public engagement skills, enabling farmers to navigate the process confidently while fostering community trust.
Misinformation about aquaculture can create division on the waterfront and threaten the livelihoods of hardworking sea farmers and commercial fishermen. In response, the role of Community Engagement Coordinator was created. “These farmers contribute immensely to working waterfronts and local economies, providing jobs and producing food sustainably,” says Trixie Betz, Outreach and Development Specialist at the MAA. “Sea farmers should not have to debunk myths in order to gain community support. As aquaculture grows, Mainers deserve accurate information.”
Lipp brings a wealth of experience to the role: before moving to Maine, she gained valuable experience in Alaska fisheries including set netting for sockeye salmon and working as a fisheries observer. As operations manager at Salmon Sisters, she developed strong leadership communication skills. Recently, Lipp completed the first aquaculture apprenticeship in the U.S. with over 2000 hours of hands-on training at Mere Point Oyster Co. in Brunswick, ME and 144 hours of technical coursework through Southern Maine Community College. Lipp’s deep understanding of working waterfronts and her natural ability to connect with people makes her an ideal fit for this role.
“I am thrilled to join the MAA team and provide further support to our hardworking network of farmers,” says Lipp. “I am confident that with my background in both aquaculture and wild fisheries, I will be able to effectively foster strategic relationships in Maine. I look forward to working closely with our coastal communities on a personal level to promote the responsible stewardship of our marine spaces.”
A recent survey by the MAA shows strong support for aquaculture in Maine, with 83% of residents familiar with the sector backing its growth. Among all Mainers, eight in ten believe aquaculture can play an important role in preserving Maine's working waterfronts and in diversifying the economic base of Maine's coastal and rural communities. Even those less familiar with aquaculture recognize its importance for Maine and its future.
The survey highlights a significant correlation between the understanding of aquaculture and higher support for the industry, underscoring the importance of education and access to accurate information. The Ambassador program aims to engage growers, fishermen and coastal residents in discussion about aquaculture. Fiona de Koning from Hollander & De Koning Mussels praised the program saying, “its inception has filled a gap in communication and mentoring opportunities at the community level. Work like this is so important to both preventing and correcting misunderstandings about sea farming.”
Alicia Gaiero, owner of Nauti Sisters Sea Farm in Yarmouth, adds “As growers, it’s on us to earn the trust of the communities where we farm, and the MAA is here to support us. For young oyster growers, this program is essential as we expand our businesses. By fostering transparency and mutual respect, we're strengthening the very fabric of our local communities. This initiative is a game-changer for sustainable growth and community collaboration.”
As Maine’s aquaculture industry grows, facilitating open and honest conversations are essential. With climate change and gentrification threatening our working waterfronts, aquaculture offers new business and career options; however, these opportunities depend on farmers’ ability to grow their farms and create more jobs.
The Ambassador Program, led by Lipp, seeks to enhance perceptions of aquaculture, boost social investment, and better integrate the industry in Maine’s future. The position of Community Engagement Coordinator is being funded by FocusMaine and World Wildlife Fund; both organizations are committed to advocating for Maine's aquaculture industry and improving social license.
For more information, please contact:
Trixie Betz
Outreach & Development Specialist
Maine Aquaculture Association
(207) 622-0136
About the Maine Aquaculture Association
The Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA) est. 1978, is a nonprofit trade association that advocates for Maine’s finfish, shellfish, and sea vegetable farmers. 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.
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