Erin Adams
Fantastic Transcripts
On August 5, 2024, Hillary Smith and Hana Harvey interviewed Erin Adams in Portland, Maine. Adams, born in 1983 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the co-founder and CEO of Ocean Farm Supply, a Maine-based company developing plastic-free, compostable mesh bags for shellfish and produce harvest. She holds a background in marine science and extensive field experience, including work as a fisheries observer in Alaska, video survey technician with SMAST, assistant scientist with the Sea Education Association, and part-time captain with a Portland-based lobster tour operation.
In the interview, Adams traces her personal and professional trajectory from a Massachusetts upbringing to her current work in Maine’s aquaculture industry. She discusses early influences, including formative work in cooperative scallop research and exposure to plastic pollution while sailing with SEA, which shaped her commitment to sustainability. Adams outlines the development of Ocean Farm Supply and its collaboration with Maine Ocean Farms, highlighting the company’s R&D efforts in gear alternatives, including compostable mesh and biofouling mitigation for scallop lantern nets. She also details her engagement with workforce development initiatives, such as aquaculture apprenticeship programs, and reflects on the challenges and opportunities facing Maine’s coastal communities. Topics discussed include gender dynamics in maritime workspaces, climate adaptation strategies, regulatory constraints on gear innovation, and her vision for a resilient, environmentally sustainable shellfish sector in Maine.
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