Aquaculture Industry
Aquaculture involves the propagation and rearing of marine and freshwater species in controlled or selected environments and represents a diverse segment of the Massachusetts agriculture industry. In Massachusetts, state law includes aquaculture within the definition of agriculture, and farmers here cultivate aquatic species for food, restoration, education, and sporting activities.
Aquaculture Industry
The cultivation of aquatic species, specifically shellfish, was practiced by the Native Americans and later by the colonists on Cape Cod, however it was not until the 1970's when more efficient hatchery and cultivation techniques were developed so that commercial shellfish aquaculture could begin in Massachusetts.
Since that time, marine aquaculture has grown to nearly 400 private shellfish farms and 29 municipal propagation programs within 37 coastal towns in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries reported that the value of shellfish produced by the Massachusetts aquaculture industry was nearly $30 Million in 2023, mostly representing oysters and hardshell clams.
Recently some growers have begun producing sugar kelp, a fast-growing species which grows during the winter months, helping to avoid conflicting uses of an area, and helping to diversify the farm. Sugar kelp can be eaten freshly cooked, or processed into a number of different products, including kelp ‘noodles’, dried kelp, or used as a thickener for food processing.
Additionally, Massachusetts finfish growers produce a variety of species of finfish, including trout, and largemouth bass, and one of the largest and longest running commercial recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in the United States producing barramundi, an Asian sea bass.
Massachusetts is also fortunate to have cutting edge aquaculture research and technical assistance through organizations such as Woods Hole Sea Grant, MIT Sea Grant, and the Southeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center, run through Cape Cod Cooperative Extension.