Learning the Ropes: Inside Maine’s First Aquaculture Boot Camp

In this episode, we head to the Darling Marine Center on the coast of Maine to experience the first-ever Aquaculture Boot Camp—an intensive training program designed to equip the next generation of aquaculture farmers and professionals with hands-on maritime skills.

Offered by the Maine Aquaculture Hub in partnership with aquaculture in shared waters, and funded in part by congressional support through Senators King and Collins, this week-long boot camp immerses students in critical aquaculture skills—handling boats, navigation, knot-tying, mooring design, oyster farming, kelp cultivation, and boat trailering.

Hear directly from instructors and students about why hands-on training is crucial for Maine’s working waterfront and how building practical skills translates into confidence, safety, and future success in aquaculture.