The Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Expo
NOAA Fisheries | June 6, 2022
Building the Aquaculture Workforce
Women represent an estimated 70 percent of the global aquaculture industry. This year’s conference hosted a women and minorities in aquaculture networking event for the first time.
"I was honored to be involved with an event that's rarely done at aquaculture conferences,” said Imani Black, founder and CEO of Minorities in Aquaculture, a non-profit providing educational opportunities to bridge the gap between minority women and sustainable seafood. “Through this conference, we were able to grow our partnerships, engagement/outreach, and our overall presence supporting Maine aquaculture, especially our support for Maine’s women oyster farmers."
Several sessions were devoted to growing the aquaculture workforce. Christian Brayden, a project manager with the Maine Aquaculture Association, said, “Workforce development is critical for the future of Maine's aquaculture sector, which is why the Maine Aquaculture Association is committed to collaborating with partner organizations to train and prepare the next generation of seafood farmers.”
