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

这个创新伙伴关系：缅因大学马基亚斯分校（缅因大学系统七个校区中最东端）的创新能力建设项目，通过对两种重要商业物种：蓝贻贝（Mytilus edulis）和北极面蛤（Mactromeris polynyma）的贝类研究，研究在缅因东部沿海创造新的海洋水产养殖就业机会和新财富的机会。目前，贻贝的养殖使用来自野生的幼鱼，但由于生物和非生物条件的时空变化，无法实现一致的年度生产计划。目前在任何地方都没有养殖蛤，虽然在缅因湾有，但只有在加拿大海域才有商业收获，在那里它们是在水深超过20米的地方用水力疏浚的。这些蛤蜊是速冻的，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的知识和理解，包括孵化场、苗圃和这两种商业双壳类物种的生长阶段，这些物种尚未在美国的贝类孵化场生产。这项研究工作将为其他研究人员和商业企业提供重要的信息，了解影响每种物种从早期到后期生活史阶段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吨以上。超过90%的进口来自两个国家，新西兰和加拿大，因为国内供应不足以满足消费者的需求。其他影响包括通过动手孵化和实地活动指导本科生的教学、培训和学习，这将扩大代表性不足群体（学术和地理）的参与。学术界与小企业的合作是贝类研究的基础，它创造了一个更强大、更高效的研究基础设施。按照规划，这种伙伴关系将导致可持续的商业化活动，并与缅因州东部的文化遗产和生态价值相兼容。PI Beal（富布赖特学者）和共同PI Shumway （Aldo Leopold研究员）在弥合工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展活动。项目启动时的合作伙伴是主要学术机构缅因大学马基亚斯分校（University of Maine at Machias），这是一所位于缅因州东部的公立本科院校，有1000名学生和100名员工；以及三个主要的小型技术业务合作伙伴：AC， Inc (Beals， ME)，缅因州东部最大的海鲜批发企业，拥有23名员工；New DHC Inc.（缅因州machachiasport）是一家位于缅因州东部的三文鱼养殖公司，拥有55名员工；Pemaquid Oyster Company, Inc. (Waldoboro， ME)，一家拥有6名员工的贝类水产养殖公司。其他学术和政府合作伙伴包括康涅狄格大学海洋科学系（康涅狄格州Avery Point）；国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）的两个分支机构：位于康涅狄格州米尔福德的国家海洋渔业局（NMFS）；以及位于南卡罗来纳州查尔斯顿的国家沿海海洋科学中心（NCCOS）。

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.