AUGUST 2023

Social License for Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture in Maine

Emily Whitmore Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

Farmers are well aware of the social challenges that come with starting an aquaculture farm. Conflicts with stakeholders, concerns over impacts, and misinformation can lead to a host of challenges for new and seasoned farmers alike. In an effort to learn and share best practices for community engagement, MAIC partnered with 30 Maine shellfish and seaweed farmers to create a guide for generating social license, a concept that describes informal, ongoing community approval. In this webinar, Emily give an overview of farmer strategies for outreach and engagement, how farmers go about gaining trust from their stakeholders, and how they have dealt with opposition.