A few days ago, the Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exhibition (NACE), held in Portland, Maine (United States), broke attendance records with more than 700 aquaculturists, students, suppliers, and researchers in attendance. This year, the event − sponsored by Cooke USA − addressed topics such as food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, providing local seafood, creating jobs in coastal communities, and supporting fisheries restoration.
The NACE and Milford Aquaculture Seminar (MAS) in 2026 was a three-day event co-hosted by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and NOAA Milford Lab. With numerous challenges facing the aquaculture sector, the need for industry-relevant applied research, innovation, and communication is greater than ever. By bringing together farmers, processors, manufacturers, resource managers, extension specialists, researchers, and students (and many more) we hope to encourage the sharing of knowledge that will allow our sector to thrive.
Danielle Blacklock, the director of the office of aquaculture for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gave the welcome address. It is important to highlight that the Maine Aquaculture Association handed out its first-ever lifetime achievement award at the 2026 event. Chris Davis, former 20-year executive director of the association, received the inaugural award.
This edition featured the largest trade show ever held, bringing together the leading aquaculture suppliers from across North America.
45 Sessions
In 2026, the event was set to feature an engaging program with more than 100 experts talks, 40 poster presentations, interactive workshops and networking opportunities followed, including a plenary panel where industry extension agents provided state-by-state updates of aquaculture’s challenges and opportunities. 45 sessions covering finfish, sea vegetables, and shellfish farming, as well as a record number of posters in the Thursday Poster Session. They have the largest tradeshow they have ever hosted, showcasing leading aquaculture vendors from across North America.
Additionally, there had seven informative workshops, and four field trips to local aquafarms and research facilities. And last but not least they celebrated farmed seafood from across the Northeast at the Opening Reception.
After the closure, the organization expressed “a massive thank you to the enormous number of people who make this event a success. Every tradeshow vendor, sponsor, chairperson, presenter, field trip host, seafood provider − we could not make this event happen without you.”
First-Ever Lifetime Achievement Award
The Maine Aquaculture Association handed out its first-ever lifetime achievement award at the 2026 event. Chris Davis, former 20-year executive director of the association, received the inaugural award.
Davis is the NACE’s conference manager and has held roles with or served on boards for the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, Maine Aquaculture Association, Maine Department of Marine Resources Aquaculture Advisory Council, and the National Shellfisheries Association.
Created in 1998
The biennial Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (NACE) was created in 1998 by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center with the goal of bringing together producers, service providers, vendors, researchers, students and managers from across the northeast region to discuss pressing issues and relevant research on aquaculture.
The NACE, held every two years, was created in 1998 by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center.
