Task Force Lays Out Possibilities for Maine’s Blue Economy

With its deepwater ports, thriving maritime industries like shipbuilding and fishing, rich marine ecosystems, and expansive coastline — the longest, in fact, of any Atlantic state — Maine seems perfectly positioned to be a national leader in the emerging blue economy.

But it’s not — not yet, at least.

A task force, led by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, recently released a report to the legislature with recommendations for how the state can promote and grow blue economy activities that sustainably use ocean resources for both economic and ecosystem health.

The group was convened in response to SP 523 – LD 1286, a bill from State Senator Jill Duson passed by the legislature in 2023. The Blue Economy Task Force featured over 30 leaders from Maine-based public and private research institutions, businesses, trade organizations, agencies, and nonprofits. Among those represented was Bigelow Laboratory. With its unique expertise in algae and track record of both innovative ocean research and education for workforce development, the institute is a natural fit to contribute to the state’s blue economy vision.

“With our algae culture collection, knowledge, research infrastructure, and recent incubator award to work more closely with entrepreneurs, Bigelow is well positioned to contribute to this,” said Vice President for Research Beth Orcutt, who served as the institute’s representative on the task force. “We have a unique confluence of assets and expertise that will allow us to springboard on opportunities identified by this report.”

The blue economy is about productively and sustainably using marine resources for economic health, improved livelihoods, and the protection of the ocean. With its active working waterfront, cold and relatively pristine waters, proximity to Europe, and experienced workforce, Maine has countless geographic and social advantages for this particular form of economic development.

Yet, as the report points out, the state has largely missed out on opportunities that other states, such as California and Rhode Island, have capitalized on. To make up that gap, the report puts forward several recommendations to accelerate the pace of innovation in industries from aquaculture and commercial seafood to research, marine recreation, and defense. It recommends establishing a blue economy hub, pushing education and workforce development, and prioritizing investments in research and commercialization.

All of those efforts, Orcutt said, would be bolstered by — and accelerate — the research and development coming out of organizations like Bigelow Laboratory.

She points to several resources the institute has that could support the opportunities identified in the report.

There’s the diverse collection of algae, housed at the National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, which could be mined for potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and more. There’s also the Tandy Center for Ocean Forecasting, the Center for Seafood Solutions, and other groups within Bigelow Laboratory that have advanced research in aquaculture and seaweed health, long-term ocean observation, and big data — all areas called out by the report as obvious areas for innovation. On top of that, the institute has several successful education and professional development programs and a long history of notable basic and applied research that has brought high-quality jobs and significant federal funding to the state.

But single organizations like Bigelow Laboratory cannot do this work alone.

Another recommendation coming out of the report is to formalize ongoing collaboration across the whole “innovation ecosystem.” Key to that will be the ongoing efforts of the Maine Marine Science Consortium, which was organized last year by the Bigelow Laboratory’s CEO and President, Deborah Bronk, and has brought together diverse organizations across the state. The success of the consortium is emblematic of what Orcutt called the “Maine model,” where organizations and communities in the state are naturally inclined to collaboration, teamwork, and mutual good — all of which, she said, will help the state attract the people and businesses needed to help the blue economy flourish. That effort got a boost with a recent bill introduced in the legislature that would commit the state to continuing the work of the task force.

“Bigelow is really poised, and our scientists are excited to get their solutions out into the universe, and those solutions can help create jobs. But we can’t do that in a vacuum,” Orcutt said. “We need this ecosystem of organizations, businesses, legislators, agencies, and investors supporting a blue economy across the state.”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Farmers from Mook Sea Farm collect oysters as part of the significant aquaculture industry that is central to Maine’s blue economy (Credit: Robert Mitchell, courtesy of Mook Sea Farm).

Photo 2: Senior Research Scientist Mike Lomas presents on a panel at the Blue Innovation Symposium, one of the nation’s premier blue economy education and networking events, in Newport, R.I., in February (Courtesy of Blue Venture Forum).

Photo 3: Vice President for Research Beth Orcutt participates in an event at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in September 2024 to brainstorm algae-based solutions and economic opportunities (Credit: Tim Greenway).