Maine Sea Farmer's News Bulletin - May 18th, 2026

Hosted by Dana Morse, longtime Extension Agent for Maine’s aquaculture community, this bulletin-style podcast shares timely news, updates, and practical insights from the working coast. Broadcasting from UMaine’s Darling Marine Center, Dana connects science, local knowledge, and on-the-water experience to support sea farmers, researchers, and coastal professionals across the state.

1. 2026 RARGOM Annual Science Meeting, Wednesday, November 4, 2026, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
https://www.rargom.org/annual-science-meeting/

2. Island Sea Grant's Extension program is seeking a Marine Research Associate III who will focus on RISG's coastal resilience portfolio while also supporting the program's blue economy, energy, and fisheries and aquaculture work.  https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/16642

3. The Local Food Switchboard beta site is LIVE!
https://www.mainefoodconvergence.org/

4. Our May newsletter in available online -
We have stopped printing copies so if you want access to our unique and informative content you need to signup for our

Constant Contact or this LISTSERV to get notifications that a new edition has been posted.

here's the link:
https://www.constantcontact.com/?cc=forms_inline
https://ecsga.org/newsletter-archives/   -

5. 
Grant opportunity: SARE Seeks Outreach Products to Advance Sustainable Agriculture
https://www.sare.org/about/SARE-Outreach/Publishing-with-SARE-Outreach/New-Product-Nomination-Form/

6. Job Posting: Kennebec River DMR Trap and Truck Position
TRI-STATE STAFFING CONTRACT POSITION
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
$19.50 hourly
May - October 2026

7. Nutrition Data on Shellfish
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63a1cefa1ec5262aaf1b0952/t/68c022e280a1b627b61dced6/1757422306823/New+Data_Bivalve+Handbook+for+Producers+%28F%2BP%2C+2025%29.pdf

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63a1cefa1ec5262aaf1b0952/t/698f42f331b7936dbd537363/1770996467508/Food+%2B+Planet+Bivalve+Handbook+for+Consumers+%282026+UPDATE%29-compressed.pdf

8. Online: Introduction to Aquaculture and Recirculating Systems
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mmXtslemhrXwjQudmmqpjS7JUxBaEu-E?usp=drive_link

9. 
Where are blue crabs in the Gulf of Maine? 
https://www.manomet.org/bluecrab/

10. Grant opportunity - USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

11. USDA-NIFA Special Research Grants Program for Aquaculture Research - competition open - deadline 6/15/26
NIFA requests applications for the Special Research Grants Program for Aquaculture Research

for FY 2026. The amount available for grants in FY 2026 is approximately $1,813,000. If this program receives appropriated funds in FY 2027, meritorious projects identified in the FY 2026 competition that did not receive funding in FY 2026 may be recommended for award using FY 2027 funds. In this case, a separate NOFO may not be issued for the FY 2027 funds.