Ferda Farms LLC
Ferda Farms LLC
April 21, 2023
FocusMaine awards $90,000 to grow Maine aquaculture businesses
Ocean Approved Inc. / Atlantic Sea Farms
Ocean Approved Inc. / Atlantic Sea Farms work with Maine fishermen to diversify their income by starting seaweed aquaculture farms.
FocusMaine has awarded nearly $90,000 to nine Maine aquaculture operations in Cumberland, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York counties.
“The strength, diversity and number of proposed projects FocusMaine received for the Propel Aquaculture Mini Grant Fund is another indication that Maine’s aquaculture industry is on the rise and full of economic and career opportunities,” said Courtney Crossgrove, food and agriculture program manager at FocusMaine.
Propel Aquaculture Mini Grants were awarded to the following companies, which include sea farms and producers of value-added aquaculture products:
American Unagi, $10,000, to adapt processing for eels. Implement a processing system proven in the petrochemical and leather industries with modifications to meet the needs of eel processing.
Bangs Island Mussels, $10,000, to build a food-safe mussel-harvesting conveyor
Ferda Farms LLC $10,000, for working floats to scale up near-shore solar-powered oyster processing. Will include solar panels and machinery.
Islesboro Marine Enterprises Inc., $10,000 to create a remote settlement system on a loading dock to produce seeded mussel ropes using hatchery-reared mussel larvae.
Love Point Oysters LLC, $10,000 toward a facility and wholesale expansion. Will include the installation of a walk-in refrigerator to support production and sales expansion.
Ocean Approved Inc. / Atlantic Sea Farms, $9,870 for modern seaweed cultivation technology. Will purchase the equipment necessary to transition toward free-living gametophyte cultivation to increase the efficiency and output of kelp seed cultivation.
Maine Oyster Co. LLC, $10,000 for conveyor belt assembly line and custom cold storage fridge. Funding will help pay for a two-part commercial-grade conveyor belt assembly line system and custom walk-in fridge.
TWIYO INC. dba the World Is Your Oyster, $10,000 for solar-powered 3D oyster grow raft. Will build a new, second-generation oyster grow raft that partially incorporates a solar rotation system into the companies already existing 3D oyster growing raft design.
Wolfe Neck Oyster Co., $9,815 for small seed upweller optimization. Will update the upweller system to include vari-speed regulation, updated pumps and environmental monitoring to increase seed survivorship and industry resilience.
“FocusMaine is proud to provide direct support to several of Maine's aquaculture companies and to propel an industry that preserves our working waterfront heritage and provides a critical food source in a changing climate,” Crossgrove said.
Wolfe Neck Oyster Co.
Wolfe Neck Oyster Co.
According to a recent announcement, since 2017, FocusMaine has invested in Maine’s aquaculture sector with more than $6 million devoted to data development and industry tracking, business and farmer skill development, seafood market acceleration, business attraction and building public support.
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 with Maine Aquaculture Association, Coastal Enterprises Inc., Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, New England Ocean Cluster, SEA Maine, Educate Maine and others to support the state's aquaculture and seafood economy.
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