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MTI CLUSTER ENHANCEMENT FUNDED
AQUACULTURE R&D BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED AT CCAR.
INTRODUCTION.
The University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture
Research (CCAR) received a $387,000 Cluster Enhancement Award from the
Maine Technology Institute (MTI) in 2002 for the construction of shared
multi purpose research facilities in Franklin. Two new buildings have
been constructed at the CCAR. These buildings will house facilities for
research and development related to the marine technology and
aquaculture sectors. The first project to utilize these spaces will be
Seabait Maine LLC who will test the equipment, designs and techniques
for intensive sea-worm culture and marketing of farmed sea-worms.
 Concurrently, a new hatchery
building project, federally funded by the Dept of Commerce EDA is
reaching the end of the design phase, with construction expected to
begin in Franklin late in the summer of 2003. With this facility, the
original buildings and equipment, and the MTI funded R&D
facilities, the CCAR will comprise and uniquely valuable and flexible
resource for aquaculture business incubation, demonstration projects,
finfish juvenile production and applied research. The site will be
considerably further enhanced by the construction of the USDA
Agriculture Research Service’s new National Cold Water Marine
Aquaculture Center, due to begin in 2004, on the site adjacent to the
CCAR in Franklin.
The following describes specifically the buildings completed with funds
from the MTI cluster enhancement award.
BUILDING ONE
Construction of this steel building, 160’ x 72’
(photo 1) was started in January 03. The pre-engineered building was
manufactured by US Steel Buildings Inc, supplied by E.L. Shea and the
contractor was local firm Harold MacQuinn. Local firm, R.L. Todd,
completed the electrical work. The building provides 11,500 SF of open
space with a ceiling height of between 13’ and 22’.
The electrical circuits enables a wide variety of lighting, ventilation
and power supply options throughout the space (Photo 2). Cable trays
provide further built in flexibility to allow multiple projects to take
place in the space. The walls and roof are insulated (R19) to reduce
power costs associated with heating or cooling large water volumes
typical of aquaculture operations. The building has an expected
lifespan of at least 20 years.
The building is supplied with sea water, fresh water, oxygen, and drain
lines.
BUILDING TWO
This is a greenhouse, 60’ x 30’ supplied by Griffin
Greenhouse Supplies and constructed by CCAR staff between December and
February (see photo 3). The building is fitted with an oil fired
furnace, two speed fan, white plastic covers, shade cloths and is wired
with lights, receptacles, single and three phase power. The building
already has water and oxygen supplies plumbed in and the basic
recirculation system installed (photo 4). The first client, Seabait
Maine LLC is occupying this space with a sea-worm nursery system, the
first of its kind in the world.
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