The Maine Aquaculture Association (MAA) is the oldest state aquaculture trade associations in the country. We were founded in 1976 by local oyster growers along the Damariscotta River.  Since that time we have expanded to represent all aquaculture in the state including freshwater and marine farmers and shellfish and finfish farmers. Membership in the association is open to all interested individuals, organizations and companies.

The Purpose of MAA is as follows:

• To work for the efficient production of food from Maine’s aquatic and marine environments;
• To provide a channel for the exchange of information among aquaculturalists and between aquaculturalists and the public;
• To suggest quality standards for aquaculture products;
• To express opinion to the public and to the legislative branches of local, state and federal governments on issues; and
• To aid producers in the promotion of aquaculture products

MAINE’S WATER FARMERS: PIONEERS WITH A LONG HISTORY OF “FIRSTS” IN THE
 DEVELOPMENT OF MORE SUSTAINABLE METHODS TO FARM THE “BLUE FRONTIER”.

•1973 MAINE LEGISLATURE PASSES FIRST MARINE FARM LEASING STATUTE IN THE NATION. STATUTE INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

•1976 THE FIRST WATER FARMERS ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY WAS FORMED, THE MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION (MAA). FOUNDING MEMBERS IDENTIFY THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE FARMING METHODS AND THE PROTECTION OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AS TOP PRIORITIES.

•1980 - 2005 MAINE WATER FARMERS HELP CONDUCT MULTIPLE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, DEVELOP EIGHT (8) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS AND LOBBY FOR OVER SIXTY-FIVE (65) SIGNIFICANT STATUTORY AND REGULATORY CHANGES DESIGNED TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND USER CONFLICTS.

•1987 MAINE DEVELOPS FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM FOR MARINE AQUACULTURE IN UNITED STATES.

•1989 MAINE DEVELOPS FIRST INTERGRATED STATE AND FEDERAL AQUACULTURE PERMITING AND MONITORING PROCESS.

•1994 MAINE SHELLFISH FARMERS OPPOSE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NON-NATIVE OYSTER SPECIES.

•1997 MAINE FISH FARMERS DEVELOP WORLD’S FIRST CODE OF CONTAINMENT TO REDUCE FARM ESCAPES.

•2000 MAINE FISH FARMERS SIGN COOPERATIVE BAY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO COLLECTIVELY MANAGE FARM IMPACTS ON LOCAL MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND MINIMIZE DISEASE RISKS.

•2000 MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS AND ADOPTS COMPREHENSIVE SET OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE BASED ON THE UNITED NATIONS’ GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

•2001 MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION SIGNS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO WORK TOGEATHER TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

•2002 IN COOPERATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORS, MAINE FISH FARMERS DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE WORLD’S FIRST EXTERNAL AUDIT SYSTEM TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH CODE OF CONTIANMENT.

•2002 MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP ADOPTS A COMPREHENSIVE CODE OF PRACTICE BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES ENACTED BY UNITED NATIONS.

•2004 MAINE WATER FARMERS LOBBY FOR STRINGENT DISCHARGE REGULATIONS ON CRUISE SHIPS TO PREVENT THE OVERBOARD DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED SEWAGE, MEDICAL AND PHOTOPROCESSING WASTES.

•2005 MAINE FISH FARMERS RECOGNIZED BY WORLD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AND ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION AS SOME OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY PROGRESSIVE AND STRICTLY REGULATED FISH FARMERS IN THE WORLD.