UNE faculty and students have strong showing at aquaculture conference

Several UNE faculty members and students gave presentations at a joint meeting of the Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition and the Milford Aquaculture Seminar in Boston, Massachusetts.

Michele Condon (Marine Sciences, ’19) gave a presentation during a session on mussel farming on blue mussel reproduction. Farmed blue mussels are a growing industry for the state of Maine. 

It was Condon’s first oral presentation at a conference.

“It was rewarding to have the opportunity to present my undergraduate research project and the two years’ worth of data it entailed to an audience including my lab peers, my research advisors, members of the aquaculture industry, potential graduate advisors and blue mussel researchers,” Condon stated. 

According to Carrie Byron, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Marine Programs, “Michele represented UNE undergraduate research with professionalism and poise."

Connor Jones (Marine Sciences, ’19) made a presentation during a session on disease threats in a changing environment on the histopathological health of blue mussels.

"There were a lot people from the aquaculture industry in attendance,” Jones explained. “It was an opportunity to present research that may directly impact them and their businesses."

Olivia Barberi (Marine Sciences, ’19) presented during a session on public health issues on potential pathogens associated with farmed kelp.

Ph.D. candidate Gretchen Grebe gave a presentation on the ability of farmed kelp to assimilate nitrogen and the opportunities nitrogen remediation might present for the industry. 

Ph.D. candidate Adrianus Both and Carrie Byron presented on the role of detritus in promoting increased production on mussel or oyster farms.

Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., executive director of UNE North: Institute for North Atlantic Studies, made a presentation during a session on training and workforce development on UNE’s new Professional Science Master’s in Ocean Food Systems.

UNE research partners David Fredriksson of the United States Naval Academy and Toby Dewhurst of Maine Marine Composites gave presentations about ongoing seaweed research in Saco Bay.

The conference brings together stakeholders from across the northeast region to discuss pressing issues and relevant research on aquaculture. It includes sessions on all aspects of aquaculture, multiple workshops, field trips and a trade show featuring 40 vendors servicing the industry.

Adam St. Gelais, M.S., assistant director for science at UNE North, Zach Miller-Hope, M.S., assistant director for education at UNE North, and Liz Johndrow, seaweed technician at the Marine Science Center, were also in attendance.