The Aquaculture Boot Camp will deliver essential skill-building training to prepare new entrants to sea farming as practiced in Maine. Based at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center in Walpole, the student cohort, working together in small groups, will engage in hands-on activities fundamental to working safely on farms and around the water. Participants will be taught by industry experts and have opportunity for shared learning or networking with their student cohort. This Spring 2026 Aquaculture Boot Camp is hosted in partnership with the Aquaculture in Shared Waters training program, which has helped people start and improve their aquaculture businesses in Maine since 2012.
Who is this training opportunity for?
With this Aquaculture Boot Camp, we are targeting the following groups: new employees on aquaculture farms (less than 1 year of experience), recent employees on aquaculture farms (1-3 years experience), small-scale operators/farm owners (1-3 years of farm operations), and current participants in Maine-based aquaculture pre-apprenticeship, internship, or externship programs. Any Maine resident over 18 is welcome to apply, but in the case of strong interest we will prioritize applications from the above named groups. We are striving to create a diverse cohort as much as possible.
What is required to participate?
The course is free of charge to all participants and will run from 8am - 5pm daily, May 4-8, 2026 at the Darling Marine Center. You must be a full-time resident of Maine and aged over 18 years to participate. Participants must commit to attending the full week of training. Housing will be provided to attendees as needed and lunch will be provided each day. Students will be responsible for their own breakfasts and dinners and will have access to a shared kitchen to prepare their own meals if they choose. Breakfast may be available for purchase onsite.
What will be covered?
Curriculum will include a variety of topics related to farm operations, shellfish and seaweed husbandry, and maritime skills such as:
• small vessel handling and maintenance
• knots, lines and splicing
• basic inshore navigation
• mooring system design/construction
• shellfish husbandry systems operations
• seeding and harvesting kelp lines
• shellfish and seaweed biology
• ... and more!
Please provide the following information to complete your application for the program:
Section 1 - Contact Information
Section 2 - Background & Interests
Section 3 - Demographic Information
Application Deadline: Friday, March 27th
Notification of decisions will be made by: Wednesday, April 1st
Thank you!
Chris Davis, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center
Annie Fagan, Maine Sea Grant
2026 Aquaculture Boot Camp Course Directors
Maya Pelletier, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center
Aquaculture in Shared Waters Coordinator
Aquaculture in Shared Waters is a partnership between Maine Sea Grant, the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., the Maine Aquaculture Association and the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences. The Spring 2026 Aquaculture Boot Camp is made possible with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture NIFA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program.
