three f

3F - Fish Scales and Scalability – Maine’s Innovative Marine and Aquaculture Sector

Moderator:

Sebastian Belle, Director, Maine Aquaculture Association

Sebastian Belle began his career as a commercial fisherman, working his way through university as a mate on offshore lobster boats.  Currently, Mr. Belle is the Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, a private non-profit association representing Maine shellfish and finfish growers. Mr. Belle sits on the National Organics Standards Board Aquaculture Task Force, the Standards Oversight Committee of the Global Aquaculture Alliance and the Boards of Directors for the USDA Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center and the International Salmon Farmers Association. Prior to joining the Maine Aquaculture Association, Mr. Belle was the state aquaculture coordinator working for the Maine Department of Marine Resources and managed commercial salmon and tuna farms. Mr. Belle holds degrees in fisheries biology and agricultural economics and has served as a technical consultant and manager on over twenty commercial aquaculture ventures in nine countries.  Mr. Belle has authored numerous articles and several book chapters on the development and implementation of Best Management Practices and Risk Control Programs on commercial aquaculture operations.  In addition to his role as the Maine Aquaculture Association’s Executive Director, Mr. Belle is President of Econ-Aqua, a consulting firm specializing in aquaculture project design, operations management, financial due diligence and risk analysis and control.

Speakers:

Chris Davis, Director of Research and Development, Pemaquid Oyster Company

Chris Davis serves as Director of the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, a not for profit organization supporting research and educational efforts that advance marine and freshwater aquaculture in Maine .  Chris is also celebrating his 22nd year of farming oysters in the Damariscotta River as a partner in the Pemaquid Oyster Company.  He also serves as an adjunct associate professor of Marine Sciences for the University of Maine and teaches courses in aquaculture and shellfish biology in Orono and at the Darling Marine Center .  Chris received his BA from Colby and PhD from the University of Maine and lives in Waldoboro with his wife Janet and their two daughters.
Glenn Libby, Chair of Midcoast Fisherman’s Association, Port Clyde Fresh Catch
Glen Libby is a lifelong second-generation fisherman from Port Clyde, Maine. He is the owner and operator of the F/V Skipper and has been fishing for groundfish, scallops and shrimp for over 33 years. He is currently the Chairman for the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association and the President of the Midcoast Fishermen’s Cooperative. Additionally, he serves on the Maine Marine Resources Advisory Council and the New England Fisheries Management Council. His vision is to identify and foster ways to restore the groundfish fishery and sustain fishing communities in New England for future generations.

Paul Dobbins, President, Ocean Approved

Paul Dobbins a seasoned executive with 28 years of global general management and biotechnology research project management experience, Mr. Dobbins has managed businesses and projects both domestically and internationally from start up to US$80 million in revenue. Mr. Dobbins holds a BA from Colby College, an MBA from the University of Minnesota and has participated in post-graduate work in the field of sustainable growth modeling for high growth businesses. Mr. Dobbins gained his first commercial on the water experience as a college student, diving for scallops in the Gulf of Maine. He joined Ocean Approved, LLC in early 2009.

Evelyn Sawyer, President, Sea Run Holdings

Dr. Sawyer is President and CEO of Sea Run Holdings, Inc.  She was the biologist for the first salmon farm in the 1970’s and has worked in aquaculture research and production in Maine since then. Her focus in the past 14 years has been on laboratory reagents and therapeutics from salmon blood. She is the author of numerous publications and 12 patents on aquaculture and biotechnology.