Aquaculture in The Northeast

The Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA) hosted a free webinar on Monday, February 1st, to discuss Aquaculture in The Northeast and provide a status on the industry. Our panel of speakers consisted of five aquaculture leaders and was moderated by Gal Hochman, C-FARE’s Board Chair, and Professor at Rutgers University.

Panelists Robert Rheault (East Coast Shellfish Growers Association), Deborah Bouchard (University of Maine), Tim Sullivan (USDA-NIFA), Tessa Getchis (Connecticut Sea Grant/UConn Extension), and Mike De Luca (Rutgers University) discussed their on-going work in the field of Aquaculture. They also provided the attendees with an update about how the Aquaculture industry is fairing during the pandemic. 

Robert Rheault started the panel by presenting an East Coast Industry Snapshot on shellfish. He is the Executive Director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association. He began by highlighting the fact that there are 1300 shellfish farms between Maine and Florida, producing $170M in farmed shellfish. Oyster production has doubled in the past five years and there has been a rapid evolution in production techniques. As the industry moves more towards floating gear there are more multiple use conflicts with other user groups.

Rheault was asked about his opinion on the tension between Aquaculture farmers and Wild-Caught Fisherman. In response, he stated, “I would say it varies. Some fishermen and fishermen associations continue to oppose aquaculture leases. Still, at the same time, many fishermen are finding work on farms or adding to their income with farms on the side. With many fish stocks under tight management quotas, it is often hard for new entrants to get permits, so aquaculture jobs are the only way to work on the water.”

Deborah Bouchard presented on the Aquaculture industry in Maine. Dr. Deborah Bouchard is the Director of the University of Maine's Aquaculture Research Institute and a Assistant n AssistanPt [GH1] Professor of Aquatic Animal Health with UMaine's Cooperative Extension. Deborah showed the audience that Aquaculture has a $150 million impact in Maine alone and employs 700 individuals directly at 190 farms. She also pointed out that the number of LPA licenses each year has risen year after year, which shows this is a growing industry. 

Bouchard went into detail on the four species currently grown at recirculating aquaculture systems in the state. She said that Atlantic Salmon, American Eel, Brook Trout, Amberjack were the four species grown at these facilities. Lastly, she spoke on the Aquaculture Research Institute at the University of Maine and its work on aquaculture workforce development in Maine. Specifically, Bouchard discussed their Certification in Applied Sustainable Aquaculture and their Industry Partnership Internship Program. 

Tim Sullivan provided the audience with his knowledge of Aquaculture Research Funding Opportunities and Current Projects in the Northeast. Dr. Tim Sullivan is a National Program Leader of Animal Production Systems at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. He started by calling attention to USDA-NIFA’s budget for Aquaculture projects. He stated that the average was $21 per year million based on the last five years. 

He provided examples of currently funded projects such as Field Diagnostic for The Rapid Detection of IHNV in Aquaculture being researched by Gaskiya Diagnostics. He wrapped up his presentations by showing a list of all of the various programs with potential aquaculture related eligibility, which included the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Aquaculture Research (AQUA), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Regional Aquaculture Centers (RAC). 

Tessa Getchis informed the audience of the national shellfish market collapse and provided a case study on the matter in Connecticut. Tessa Getchis is an extension specialist with Connecticut Sea Grant/UConn Extension Program. She showed that the shellfish industry had revenues decrease by 93%, with a total loss of 70% of the workforce. Some of the crops also suffered from being outside of the market viable size. The case study she uses argues that the shuttering of local seafood restaurants due to COVID-19 is the leading cause of the crash. 

Getchis called attention to the fact that the response to this industry crash was to help facilitate direct sales and create a website to connect consumers and shellfish farmers for direct sales and solicit grant funds to keep farmers working during the pandemic. They have also helped farmers navigate government relief programs and engage in increased communication with the industry to understand the evolving situation. 

Mike De Luca reported similar findings in New Jersey to what Tessa Getchis found in Connecticut. Mike De Luca is the Senior Associate Director in the Office of Research at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, part of Rutgers University. De Luca found that 92% of respondents to a survey of Aquaculture farmers reported 100% lost sales due to the pandemic. This massive decrease in sales has led to concerns in New Jersey about the supply outweighing the demand and crashing the price. 

New Jersey’s response to the Aquaculture market crash during the pandemic involved 76,000 oysters being planted for habitat restoration which an undertaking by 16 farmers using a Sea Grant Rapid Response Grant. Lastly, De Luca stated that “National standards are going to be required for offshore aquaculture to develop” and that “Continued support for research, technical support and innovation is critical to industry growth and sustainability.” De Luca also spoke about the need for science-based information to forecast the impacts of changing environmental conditions on shellfish aquaculture habitat and water quality requirements, to help mitigate conflicts between aquaculture expansion and other uses of coastal waters, and to inform best management practices.

This program is supported in part by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, and National Agricultural Statistics Service. Aquaculture in The Northeast is the product of a recent partnership between the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association and C-FARE. Without NAREA’s support through Farm Credit East, this event would not be possible.

Those who register but cannot attend our webinar can always view a recording of it later at the council’s YouTube channel.