Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Declares November "Massachusetts Aquaculture Month"

Boston — To recognize the cultural, economic, and ecological importance of aquaculture to the state, Governor Maura Healey is declaring November to be Massachusetts Aquaculture Month. To celebrate, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle and Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Director Daniel McKiernan joined local and state officials, along with representatives from the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA), at the Copley Square Farmers Market in Boston. Fresh oysters were available for sampling and purchase from local shellfish growers and an official proclamation from the Governor’s Office was presented to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy and support local seafood.

“Like so many of our agricultural sectors in Massachusetts, aquaculture has been part of our heritage with farmers and growers utilizing our shorelines to cultivate an industry that has flourished for hundreds of years,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “As demand grows for shellfish and other types of seafood, we’ll continue to collaborate with our partners to find ways to support the industry, ensuring that our seafood is the envy of the region.”

“Aquaculture is an important part of Massachusetts’ blue economy, heritage, and coastal culture,” said DMF Director Daniel McKiernan. “We are proud to join the hardworking members of our industry to celebrate their contributions to strengthen our working waterfronts and restore marine habitats, all while producing delicious seafood for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.”

Aquaculture is the farming and harvesting of freshwater and marine species, including finfish and shellfish. It is the fastest growing sector of agriculture in Massachusetts but has been practiced for centuries first by Indigenous populations and later by European colonists. While shellfish dominates the industry, other species contribute to the aquaculture industry, including finfish such as barramundi and trout, as well as kelp. With nearly 400 oyster farms, Massachusetts is home to a thriving oyster industry that supports local small businesses, strengthens coastal economies, and contributes to the health of marine ecosystems through oyster reef restoration, water filtration, and coastal resilience while providing access to high quality shellfish to consumers in and beyond the state. In 2024, the oyster aquaculture industry contributed $31 million to Massachusetts’ blue economy, a 13% increase in value of landings compared to 2023.

“From Buzzards Bay, across Cape Cod and from the South Shore and North Shore, oysters are a huge part of our aquaculture industry and a vital part of our coastal communities,” said Massachusetts Aquaculture Association President Seth Garfield. “This declaration is an opportunity to celebrate our growers, educate the public, and highlight the role oysters and other species play in both our environment and our economy.”

MDAR supports, regulates, protects and enhances the state’s agricultural community, promoting food safety, animal health, and “MassGrown” crops and products, as well as preserving farmland and providing technical assistance to help farms become more energy efficient,

DMF strives to manage the Massachusetts’ living marine resources in balance with the environment, resulting in sustainable fisheries, stable availability of diverse, healthy seafood, and enriched opportunities that support our coastal culture. DMF’s Shellfish Program manages shellfish growing areas statewide to protect public health and ensure all shellfish are safe to eat. It also regulates shellfish aquaculture by certifying municipally licensed shellfish aquaculture sites, permitting growers of all marine aquaculture products, ensuring safe harvest and handling practices that promote the quality of aquaculture seafood products, and providing resources and technical assistance to support the fast-growing industry.

The Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA) is a non-profit trade association formed in 1986 organized to represent aquatic farmers and related support businesses and organizations in the Commonwealth. MAA promotes the aquaculture industry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through education as to the needs, benefits, uses, and importance of aquaculture products improving the quality of life in the Commonwealth by promoting high quality Massachusetts aquaculture products, facilitating growth of a thriving and sustainable aquaculture industry, supporting development and transfer technology relevant to aquaculture industry, and maintain an effective network between industry, government, and researchers. 

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