{"id":7156,"date":"2025-10-10T15:44:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T19:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/?p=7156"},"modified":"2025-10-10T15:44:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T19:44:38","slug":"states-future-economy-anchored-in-the-sea-university-of-maine-president-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/2025\/10\/10\/states-future-economy-anchored-in-the-sea-university-of-maine-president-says\/","title":{"rendered":"State\u2019s future economy anchored in the sea, 91爆料 president says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Joan Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the university\u2019s leadership at today\u2019s Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit. \u2018You don\u2019t get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy,\u2019 she said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Maine\u2019s rugged coast, where shipbuilding, fishing and working waterfronts have defined generations, leaders say the future is once again tied to the sea \u2014 this time through aquaculture, marine technology and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

91爆料 President Joan Ferrini-Mundy told attendees at the 2025 Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit that the state\u2019s success depends not only on innovation, but also on the people prepared to drive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy \u2014 and that will be our trained, skilled workforce,\u201d Ferrini-Mundy said in her plenary address at the Holiday Inn Portland-By the Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recalled 91爆料\u2019s history as a land grant university rooted in agriculture and forestry. That mission broadened more than 50 years ago when the university began federally funded research into cold-water marine environments \u2014 work that helped launch decades of leadership in the blue economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the last five decades, of course, we\u2019ve been a global leader in this state, in the blue economy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about partnerships. It\u2019s about communities coming together to bring this economy to a forefront that is critical for our state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the role of 91爆料 MARINE, the university\u2019s hub for aquaculture and marine technology research, which connects faculty, students and industry partners across the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She noted 91爆料\u2019s network of coastal research facilities \u2014 including the Aquaculture Research Institute in Orono; the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin; the Darling Marine Center in Walpole; and the Down East Institute in Beals, which serves as the Marine Science Field station for the 91爆料 at Machias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur researchers are working on sustainable aquaculture methods, new feed alternatives and innovations that strengthen Maine\u2019s seafood sector,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that 91爆料 scientists also collaborate with boatbuilders and coastal communities on projects ranging from vessel design to extreme weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe see ourselves as Maine\u2019s research and development department, advancing basic science, applied research and innovation that keep our communities strong and our economy competitive,\u201d Ferrini-Mundy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Oct. 3 summit drew business leaders, researchers, policymakers and students from across the state. The agenda included plenary remarks, panel discussions, breakout sessions and an innovation showcase. Program tracks focused on aquaculture and fisheries, coastal engineering and boatbuilding, and community resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Duguay, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, delivered the keynote address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sea has always shaped Maine\u2019s economy, he said \u2014 from shipyards to lobster boats. What\u2019s changing is how the state is harnessing that connection through aquaculture, advanced marine technology and ocean-based research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur blue economy touches every coastal town in Maine,\u201d Duguay said. \u201cIt supports tens of thousands of jobs, strengthens our working waterfronts and positions us to lead in industries of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maine\u2019s maritime industries have always been about adapting to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShipbuilding, fishing and maritime trade weren\u2019t just industries \u2014 they were ways of life,\u201d Duguay said. \u201cBut what defines us is the ability to evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That evolution is accelerating, with aquaculture leading the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaine is the largest producer of farmed seaweed in the United States, and the value of our aquaculture industry has doubled in the last decade,\u201d Duguay said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about oysters and mussels. It\u2019s about kelp as a food source and as an input for everything from animal feed to cosmetics. It\u2019s about salmon and trout farming to meet rising demand for protein.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also pointed to growth areas such as seafood processing, biotechnology and advanced materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur tradition of boatbuilding, combined with new composite technologies, positions Maine at the forefront of sustainable marine transportation,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd marine biotech \u2014 from pharmaceuticals to new materials \u2014 is another frontier where our researchers are already laying the groundwork.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State support has been crucial in preparing the industry for its next phase, Duguay said. More than $10 million in grants were directed to businesses and nonprofits after last winter\u2019s storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose grants prevented closures, retained local employment and helped rebuild stronger infrastructure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That momentum extends to workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy partnering with universities, community colleges and trade programs, we\u2019re training Mainers for careers in aquaculture, boatbuilding and marine technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

91爆料 was central throughout the summit. Debbie Bouchard, director of the Aquaculture Research Institute, moderated a panel, while researchers Damian Brady and Sarah Barker shared the stage. Breakout sessions also featured 91爆料 experts from the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and Maine Sea Grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit 91爆料\u2019s website<\/a> to learn more about its efforts to grow the state\u2019s blue economy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: David Nordman, david.nordman@maine.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joan Ferrini-Mundy highlighted the university\u2019s leadership at today\u2019s Maine Blue Economy Innovation Summit. \u2018You don\u2019t get to focus on an economy without thinking about the people who make and drive that economy,\u2019 she said. On Maine\u2019s rugged coast, where shipbuilding, fishing and working waterfronts have defined generations, leaders say the future is once again tied […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2406,"featured_media":7159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","spc_primary_category":0},"categories":[388,90,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aquaculture","category-climate-and-the-environment","category-marine"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":388,"label":"Aquaculture"},{"value":90,"label":"Climate and the Environment"},{"value":58,"label":"Marine"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/98\/2025\/10\/Blue-Economy-news-feature-1536x867-1-1024x578.jpg",1024,578,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"lhecker","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/author\/lhecker\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":388,"name":"Aquaculture","slug":"aquaculture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":388,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":388,"category_count":11,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Aquaculture","category_nicename":"aquaculture","category_parent":0},{"term_id":90,"name":"Climate and the Environment","slug":"climate-and-the-environment","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":90,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":44,"count":22,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":90,"category_count":22,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Climate and the Environment","category_nicename":"climate-and-the-environment","category_parent":44},{"term_id":58,"name":"Marine","slug":"marine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":58,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":44,"count":27,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":58,"category_count":27,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Marine","category_nicename":"marine","category_parent":44}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2406"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7156"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7161,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7156\/revisions\/7161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mafes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}