The Maine Women & Non-binary in Aquaculture Network is a grassroots, member-driven community built around a shared desire for greater connection, support, and community among women and non-binary individuals working across Maine's aquaculture industry.
Over the past several years, Maine's aquaculture support organizations (Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Maine Sea Grant, Maine Aquaculture Association, University of Maine) have worked to advance gender equity in the industry through networking events, professional development workshops, and conference programming. These events drew strong participation from industry members and sparked conversations about creating a more consistent and connected network of support.
In 2024, the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) secured grant funding from The Nature Conservancy's SOAR (Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration) program to co-create a statewide network alongside a group of industry members. The project initially focused on building a space where women and non-binary farmers could connect, share knowledge, ask questions, and build relationships.
While MAIC has played an initial convening role, the network's structure and vision have continued to evolve organically through regional and statewide member meetings. Ultimately, the network aims to foster mentorship, facilitate knowledge exchange, and build a sense of community for people navigating shared challenges and gendered barriers in Maine's aquaculture industry.
Interested in how this work got started?
Check out this article from Aquaculture North America about a workshop series in Maine for women and non-binary aquaculturists!