** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHILE AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO THE GROWTH OF OUR NATION'S BLUE ECONOMY AND COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE IS ONE OF MAINE'S FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES, WITH $110M IN ANNUAL REVENUE AND A PROJECTED 33% INCREASE IN GROWTH BY 2030, WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY LAGS BEHIND. THE SECTOR HOLDS MUCH POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT BARRIERS FOR MAINE'S RURAL YOUTH WHO FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE LIMITED JOB SECURITY, LOW WAGES, AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN STEM-RELATED FIELDS. INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO BE INTRODUCED TO EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE STATE-BASED, HERITAGE INDUSTRIES OFTEN BUILD PATHWAYS TO FUTURE CAREERS.THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEW LEARNING TOOLS - VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS AND HANDS-ON CURRICULA - THAT ARE FOCUSED ON AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY, TRAIN EDUCATORS AND YOUTH HOW TO USE THEM, AND MENTOR YOUTH LEADERS SO THEY CAN EDUCATE AND INFORM OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT AQUACULTURE INNOVATIONS. ULTIMATELY, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MAINE'S AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY AND RELATED INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND AQUACULTURE CAREERS AND ASPIRATIONS AMONG YOUTH AND EDUCATORS, AS WELL AS INCREASE EDUCATOR CAPACITY FOR HIGH-QUALITY AQUACULTURE EDUCATION.