MAINE PUBLIC • December 30, 2024
A new census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds the number of aquaculture farms in Maine is growing, but local groups caution against reading too much into the exact numbers. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the the Maine Aquaculture Association, said not all operators respond to the USDA census, leading to an undercount. "We now have, I think, roughly 700 LPAs [limited purpose aquaculture licenses] in the state," Belle said. "So they're very small, but they are perhaps an indicator of growth to come." Belle said that's in addition to about 150 licensed marine farms, and about a dozen land-based facilities.