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Talking Aquaculture in Maine: Women on the Water

Free Event:
Thu Jun 29 at 7 PM

Are you an Island Institute Member? The team at the Island Institute would love to know if you plan on attending. Please email them at membership@islandinstitute.org and let them know they’ll see you at the Lincoln Theater or for more information.

Talking Aquaculture in Maine is a free series of conversations with innovators who are making a substantial contribution to aquaculture here in the state of Maine. Join host Molly Miller, PhD, of the Island Institute as she welcomes special guests Fiona de Koning, and Afton Vigue, for a discussion on Women on the Water!

Dive into the experience of women in the aquaculture industry! While there have been more female farmers in the last five years than ever before, Maine’s aquaculture industry is still a male-dominated sector. We’ll learn about the various roles these impressive women have in the aquaculture industry as well as the challenges they face. From farmers and business owners to research and industry leaders, we have a breadth of experience and knowledge to share with you about the current state and future trajectory of aquaculture in Maine.

Molly Miller, PhD, is a Community Development Officer at Island Institute. In her role as a Community Development Officer with the Island Institute, Molly is focused on working waterfront resilience, supporting both the Blue Economy and Business Resilience teams in the development and implementation of the Institute’s strategies for the long-term, sustainable protection of Maine’s critical working waterfronts. With over a decade of experience in marine conservation, fisheries, and aquaculture, Molly has worked with a diverse group of stakeholders and communities to promote social, economic, and ecological issues. She recently received her Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine, where her doctoral work focused on the human dimensions of aquaculture as a means of informing sustainable development and providing economic opportunities for Maine’s coastal communities. Molly received her Master’s degree in Natural Resource and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a BA in Biology from Vassar College. Prior to that, she also spent over a year at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory on MDI restoring eelgrass beds, monitoring water quality, and helping to form the Frenchman Bay Partners. It was this work that convinced her to pursue a career in marine science and work with coastal communities to preserve both their heritage and the coastal environment in the face of a changing climate.

Fiona de Koning, is the Owner of Acadia Aqua Farms in Bar Harbor. Fiona loves the Ocean. Everything on it, and everything in it. She grew up on the East Coast of England sailing with her family, learning about tides, seasons and the natural world. She met and married her husband Theo, a 5th generation Dutch mussel farmer. Moving to the Netherlands, she grew passionate about the idea of regenerative and sustainable mariculture. When the opportunity arose to bring mariculture to the United States in the form of bottom cultured mussels, Fiona and her family jumped at the chance, and fell deeply in love with coastal Maine. Working to meet the demands brought on by the rapid effects of climate change, Fiona is dedicated to integrating new methods of sustainable and healthy food production. The experience and dedication that Theo and Fiona bring to the aquaculture field is reflected in the number of committees and organizations that they serve and engage with. Fiona devotes a lot of time listening to the different perspectives of stakeholders and the people who live and work on these waters. “Stewardship isn’t just the name of our ship; It’s what we believe in.”

Afton Vigue, is the Outreach and Development Specialist at Maine Aquaculture Association. Afton earned her B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine in 2017, and stayed on for two more years to earn an M.S. in Natural Resource Economics in 2019. Afton is the primary storyteller at MAA, with her role being dedicated to communications, marketing, membership and public relations. She manages the association’s website, social media accounts, and email newsletters, as well as video and film projects, tourism products including the Maine Oyster Trail and other projects. She has been with the MAA since 2019.