Courtesy / Maine Sea Grant
Heather Sadusky was named as coordinator of the Maine Aquaculture Hub.
Updated: May 12, 2020
Maine 'aquaculture hub' coordinator to support workforce development
Courtesy / University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute
The Maine Aquaculture Hub is working to expand training in response to workforce needs and develop a 10-year roadmap for aquaculture in Maine.
By Staff
Maine Sea Grant announced that Heather Sadusky joined its marine extension team as the coordinator of the Maine Aquaculture Hub.
Sadusky will work with hub partners to expand training in response to workforce needs, support the development of a 10-year roadmap for aquaculture in Maine, and evaluate hub impacts, according to a news release.
She will also help coordinate partner efforts and support the hub’s steering committee.
“I’m excited to be part of the Maine Sea Grant team and in a position that gives me the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable aquaculture in the United States,” Sadusky said in the release. “Maine already has a world-renowned seafood industry, and I’m looking forward to partnering with all of our marine stakeholders to expand aquaculture’s role in providing healthy, sustainable, local food.”
The hub is a collaboration formed with leadership from Maine Sea Grant to help the aquaculture industry in the state overcome barriers to growth and to support industry innovation.
Sadusky comes to Maine Sea Grant and the Maine Aquaculture Hub with a background in aquaculture, global seafood supply chains, sustainable fisheries management, conservation and communications.
She previously worked for the Billfish Foundation and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Florida, followed by work with a Chilean salmon producer and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture.
Maine’s seafood industry is valued at more than half a billion dollars.
The Gulf of Maine is a productive marine habitat, but is also quickly changing due to development along the coast, impacts from climate change and overharvesting. With wild harvests of fish and shellfish in decline and global consumption of fish protein on the rise, aquaculture is expected to play an important role in supporting seafood systems.
The hub was formed to help the aquaculture industry in Maine overcome barriers to growth. Goals include:
- Develop and sustain industry engagement.
- Expand training in response to aquaculture workforce needs.
- Develop a 10-year roadmap for aquaculture in Maine.
- Build capacity within Maine’s aquaculture industry by establishing a responsive call for proposals that encourages industry leaders to identify effective means of achieving growth.
- Establish an annual process to target industry needs.
- Invest in expansion and diversification needs of the industry.
Partners of the hub include Maine Sea Grant, Maine Aquaculture Association, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Coastal Enterprises Inc., University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine School of Marine Sciences and Maine Sea Grant.
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