– Community Impact –
Downeast Fisheries Partnership
The Downeast Fisheries Partnership (DFP) is a collaborative group of organizations that work together with fishermen and their communities to rejuvenate river and marine fisheries in eastern Maine.
The DFP helps Downeast Institute commercialize our innovations, and helps communities and fishermen leverage our experience with intertidal habitat restoration ecology, hatchery technology, and marine science education for greater impact.
Above: Closeup of mussels and mussels growing on ropes.
Community Mussel Farming
Through our research, DEI has developed pre-seeded ropes for the mussel aquaculture industry, and initial trials show that a gold variety we produced through selective breeding may grow well in Downeast’s colder waters.
The Downeast Fisheries Partnership supported DEI’s efforts in 2020 to demonstrate the use of vacant lobster pounds for aquaculture of its gold mussels. DFP then assembled a group of partners, which included the Sunrise County Economic Council, Maine Sea Grant and DEI. This partnership was awarded funding to work with commercial fishermen to expand mussel farming further east than is typically practices, and create pilot mussel farms. The farms were deployed in 2021.
Our Community Impact:
ADAPTIVE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
DEI provides science-based leadership to adapt to a changing marine environment.
FISHERIES STOCK ENHANCEMENT & RESTORATION
DEI has produced hundreds of millions of seed clams for coastal communities.
BUSINESS INCUBATOR
DEI has assisted fishermen and other entrepreneurs create new aquaculture opportunities.
SCIENCE EDUCATION
DEI’s marine education program makes relevant scientific exploration part of pre-K to 12 grade education
SHELLFISH FIELD DAYS
Join us August 11th for this annual event and our ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new facility.
