Innovative and Sustainable Aquaculture

This past summer I received a grant to work as a farmhand and a research assistant for Ferda Farms. Ferda Farms is a scaling oyster farm that operates out of the New Meadows River in Brunswick Maine. Founded in 2018, Ferda Farms commits its self to producing a high quality product while promoting education and innovation within the sustainable aquaculture industry. ​

Throughout the summer I spend much of my time working directly with our product. This included culling, tumbling, defouling, and harvesting the oysters. In addition to oyster husbandry, I also devoted time to research and bookkeeping. The research included testing different farming techniques and equipment, as well as studying oyster growth as a function of water qualities. Bookkeeping consisted of balancing spreadsheets as well as creating projections to inform future decision regarding scaling and the applications for loans.​

This job provided me with a greater appreciation for the work and coordination required for all food that I eat. I realized that while manual labor does not call to me as a future profession, I really enjoyed the decision making and unpredictability that goes into running a small business. I discovered the customs and politics surrounding Maine’s seafood industry, and learned how public-private research partnerships leads to efficiencies and innovation. My favorite part of the summer was fishing from our float during lunch breaks.

Internship funded by the Annual Fund for Career Readiness.