Barry Costa-Pierce discusses eel farming in Maine in MPBN interview
On January 15, 2015, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network aired a news story titled "Eel Farms in Maine? Idea is Gaining Traction," which featured an interview with Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., professor and chair in the Department of Marine Sciences and director of the Marine Science Center.
According to the article, one topic under discussion at the recent Northeast Aquaculture Conference held in Portland, Maine, was the feasibility of growing eels commercially in North America.
Costa-Pierce suggested that Maine is missing a key economic opportunity by sending its harvested elvers to Asia to be grown into full-size eels for the sushi market. He noted estimates that the state could triple the value of its elver fishery to $100 million if an eel aquaculture industry were established here.
"We’re shipping all of our elvers to China and Taiwan, and we’re missing all of that value," he stated.