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Supporting
aquaculture
Maine Science and Technology Foundation
June 14, 2002
Maine
companies that develop products for use in the aquaculture
industry "have been very helpful to our producers,"
said Sebastian Belle, director of the Maine Aquaculture
Association.
Although
Belle said fewer than 10 companies in Maine currently
sell biotechnology products to assist aquaculture, he
believes that another six or seven companies may be
on the verge of commercializing products for use in
aquaculture.
Belle
said he also expects the regulatory climate in aquaculture
to spawn more companies that work as third-party auditors
for performing environmental audits.
Besides
creating goods that benefit Maine aquaculturers, Belle
said some Maine aquaculture-related companies sell products
around the world, making them appealing to investors.
"In
terms of expansion potential, their market is not limited
by the local political debate," he said.
The
following Maine companies support the aquaculture industry:
MariCal
has developed SuperSmolt technology, which is used in
fresh water to help small salmon adapt to salt water
conditions. MariCal has a similar product in development
for use with other fish, including coho, trout and Arctic
char. The company is also working on products to enhance
growth and improve digestive function in fish.
Micro
Technologies, a diagnostics and research lab with
expertise in lobster, finfish and shellfish, is developing
fish vaccines to prevent diseases including infectious
salmon anemia. The company provides inspections and
services to certify that fish meet environmental and
commercial standards. Micro Technologies has clients
around the world.
Sea
Run Holdings sells products, such as reagents and
proteins for research and diagnostic uses, which utilize
components of fish blood. The company estimates that
salmon farming produces 4 million liters of blood annually
in North America.
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