PFI: BIC Shellfish Mariculture in Downeast Maine: Building Innovation Capacity to Diversify Economic Opportunities

这种创新伙伴关系：缅因州大学马奇亚斯分校（缅因州大学系统七个校区中最东端的一个）的创新能力建设项目，通过涉及两种重要商业物种的贝类研究，探讨了在缅因州东海岸创造新的海水养殖就业机会和新财富的机会：蓝贻贝（Mytilus edulis）和北极冲浪蛤（Mactromeris polynyma）。目前，贻贝养殖使用的青少年来源于野生生物和非生物条件的空间和时间变化不允许一致的年度生产计划。目前没有任何地方养殖海蛤，虽然存在于缅因州湾，但仅在加拿大海洋时代进行商业捕捞，在那里它们被水力疏浚深度超过20米。冲浪蛤是速冻的，只有它们的脚在市场上销售。拟议的活动促进了贝类水产养殖领域内的知识和理解，这两种商业双壳类贝类尚未在美国贝类孵化场生产，研究工作将产生对其他研究人员和商业企业至关重要的信息，这些信息涉及影响每个物种从早期到后期生活的生长和生存的参数-这项研究的更广泛的影响与提高美国在海产品行业的竞争力有关。例如，自1990年以来，美国贻贝进口量从2,600吨增加到15,000多吨。超过90%的进口来自新西兰和加拿大这两个国家，因为国内供应不足以满足消费者的需求。其他影响包括指导本科生的教学，培训和学习，通过实践孵化和实地活动，将扩大代表性不足的群体（学术和地理）的参与。学术与小企业的合作伙伴关系是贝类研究的基础，它创造了一个更强大、更有效的研究基础设施。根据配置，这种伙伴关系将导致商业化活动，是可持续的，并符合东缅因州的文化遗产和生态价值。PI比尔（富布赖特学者）和共同PI Shumway（Aldo Leopold Fellow）在弥合产业界和学术界之间的差距方面拥有丰富的经验，并将积极参与该项目以及外联活动。该项目的合作伙伴是领先的学术机构，位于马奇亚斯的缅因州大学，这是一所位于缅因州东部的公立本科院校，拥有1,000名学生和100名员工;和三个主要的，小型技术为基础的业务合作伙伴：AC公司（比尔斯，ME），最大的批发海鲜业务在东部缅因州与23名员工;新DHC公司。（Machiasport，ME），一家位于缅因州东部的鲑鱼水产养殖公司，拥有55名员工;以及Pemaquid牡蛎公司。（Waldoboro，ME），一家贝类水产养殖公司，有6名员工。其他学术和政府伙伴包括康涅狄格大学海洋科学系（康涅狄格州艾弗里波因特）;国家海洋和大气管理局的两个分支机构：康涅狄格州米尔福德的国家海洋渔业局;南卡罗来纳州查尔斯顿的国家沿海海洋科学中心。

This Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity project from the University of Maine at Machias (the easternmost of the seven campuses in the University of Maine System) examines opportunities to create new marine aquaculture jobs and new wealth in east coastal Maine through shellfish research involving two commercially important species: blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Arctic surfclams (Mactromeris polynyma). Currently, mussels are cultured using juveniles sourced from the wild where spatial and temporal variation in both biotic and abiotic conditions does not allow for consistent annual production schedules. Surfclams are not cultured anywhere at present, and, although present in the Gulf of Maine, are harvested commercially only in the Canadian Maritimes where they are dredged hydraulically at depths greater than 20 meters. The surfclams are flash frozen and only their feet are marketed. The proposed activities advance knowledge and understanding within the field of shellfish aquaculture involving the hatchery, nursery, and growout phases of these two commercial bivalve species that have yet to be produced in shellfish hatcheries in the U.S. The research effort will yield information critical to other researchers and commercial businesses about the parameters that affect growth and survival of each species from early to later life-history stages.The broader impacts of this research are related to increasing U.S. competitiveness in the seafood industry. For example, since 1990, U.S. mussel imports have increased from 2,600 tons to more than 15,000 tons. Over 90% of the imports come from two countries, New Zealand and Canada, because the domestic supply is inadequate to keep up with consumer demand. Other impacts involve mentoring undergraduate students in teaching, training, and learning through hands-on hatchery and field-based activities that will broaden participation of underrepresented groups (academic and geographic). The academic-small business partnership is fundamental to the shellfish research that creates a stronger, more efficient research infrastructure. As configured, this partnerships will lead to commercialization activities that are sustainable and compatible with the cultural heritage and ecological values of downeast Maine. PI Beal (a Fulbright Scholar) and co-PI Shumway (an Aldo Leopold Fellow) have extensive experience bridging the gap between industry and academia and will be active in the project as well as in outreach activities.Partners at the inception of the project are the lead academic institution, University of Maine at Machias, a public, undergraduate institution of 1,000 students and 100 employees in eastern Maine; and three primary, small technology-based business partners: AC, Inc (Beals, ME), the largest wholesale seafood business in eastern Maine with 23 employees; New DHC Inc. (Machiasport, ME), a salmon aquaculture company in eastern Maine with 55 employees; and, Pemaquid Oyster Company, Inc. (Waldoboro, ME), a shellfish aquaculture company with 6 employees. Other academic and governmental partners include the University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences (Avery Point, CT); Two branches of National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration (NOAA): National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Milford, CT; and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in Charleston, SC.