On June 18, 2024, Camden Hunt interviewed Eden Divney in Portland, Maine. Eden Divney is the land manager at Bangs Island Mussels and has worked in the aquaculture industry for over three years. Born in 1998 and raised in southern Maine, Divney’s background includes a mix of family ties to recreational fishing and shipbuilding. Although they did not complete a college degree, Divney studied various subjects, including medical assisting and criminal justice, and worked in food service before joining Bangs Island Mussels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the interview, Divney describes their role managing mussel production, processing, and distribution. They provide a detailed overview of mussel cultivation, harvest logistics, and machine-based processing systems, while emphasizing the precision and care taken to ensure product quality and food safety. They discuss the cyclical nature of mussel farming, seasonal challenges such as red tide, and the impact of environmental changes, including intensified storms and ocean pollution. Divney reflects on their identity as a queer, non-binary person in a male-dominated industry and discusses the challenges and privileges of working in a supportive workplace. They highlight the value of empathy, education, and inclusive hiring practices within aquaculture and describe their participation in workshops aimed at increasing accessibility and skill-sharing in the field. Environmental stewardship is a key theme, with Divney expressing concern about microplastics, storm-driven pollution, and the urgency of climate adaptation. The interview concludes with Divney’s vision for the future of Maine aquaculture: a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient sector that supports both traditional fishing communities and innovative, environmentally conscious farming practices.