This project represents a critical step in advancing resilience for maines shellfisheries

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute received a $499,216 Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Acidification Program (CFDA 11.017) effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027. This project will deliver a comprehensive resilience assessment framework for Maine's shellfisheries, with particular focus on Casco Bay. Key deliverables include: (1) documentation of observed impacts, risks of concern, and information needs to support adaptation strategies for wild-harvest and aquacultured shellfish participants; (2) synthesis of existing environmental, biological, and socioeconomic data to evaluate risks related to ocean acidification and other stressors; and (3) development of an integrated resilience assessment framework that evaluates implementation readiness and identifies gaps in the shellfish sector's adaptive capacity.

The project engages a diverse stakeholder coalition including wild shellfish harvesters, aquaculture producers, hatchery operators, scientists, municipal shellfish committee members, and decision-makers to inform the assessment process. By synthesizing prior research efforts from Maine and the Northeast U.S., the initiative will produce findings to support risk assessment and decision-making that strengthen shellfisheries resilience and facilitate industry adaptation to changing ocean conditions, with insights applicable to broader coastal resilience challenges across the region.

Through collaboration of multiple partners and engagement of diverse stakeholdersincluding wild shellfish harvesters, aquaculture producers, shellfish hatchery operators, scientists, municipal shellfish committee members, and decision-makers this project will advance three key objectives to: understand the observed impacts, risks of greatest concern, and information needed to support adaptation by wild-harvest and aquacultured shellfish fishery participants in casco BAY. Coordinate the synthesis of existing data for casco BAY to evaluate risks of concern and address information needs related to coastal and ocean acidification and other stressors. Develop a framework for an integrated resilience assessment for casco BAY shellfisheries to evaluate implementation readiness and gaps. The project builds on prior efforts in the state of maine and northeast U.S. By synthesizing environmental, biological, and socio-economic data and developing an integrated vulnerability and resilience assessment framework. Findings will support informed risk assessment and decision-making to facilitate adaptation and strengthen the resilience of shellfisheries in maine, particularly in casco BAY. The insights gained and groundwork developed through this project will support continued leadership in addressing ocean acidification and preparing coastal industries for the challenges of a changing ocean.