Cultivating Connection: Ferda Farms on the Power of Community Engagement in Aquaculture

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Chris Burtis, owner of Ferda Farms on the New Meadows River in Brunswick, ME. Chris shared his insights on the importance of community engagement ad social license to operate in sustainable aquaculture. Throughout the conversation, Chris shared stories from his experience as an oyster farmer, highlighting the many benefits that come from cultivating relationships with the local community. He emphasized the importance of collaborative community engagement and how it has been crucial to Ferda Farm's success.

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About the Podcast

Salty talks: Conversations on Sustainable Aquaculture in Maine

Learn about all things aquaculture in Maine!

Salty Talks, hosted by Corinne Noufi, the Communications Specialist at the Aquaculture Research Institute is your go-to podcast for a deep dive into all things aquaculture! This show seeks to disseminate information about the culture of various species, provide updates on research, innovation, and education, and highlight the multidisciplinary aspects of aquaculture. Each episode features interviews/discussions with researchers, industry, and other professional voices from the Maine aquaculture world.

About your host

Corinne Noufi

Corinne is the Aquaculture Communications Specialist with ARI. She engages in work by writing, producing, and distributing written material, graphics, videos, and other media products to enhance education and bring attention to the world-class research being conducted at the ARI.

She graduated from Seattle University in 2017 with a bachelor of science in biology where she examined fish food web ecology in Cambodia, sparking her interest in fisheries and how human and environmental health can be supported by aquaculture. Post graduation Corinne worked for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, an environmental non-profit in Washington State doing regional ecological restoration work.

She then went on to obtain her master’s degree from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington, allowing her to dig deeper into comparative aquaculture and food production systems. She also completed a capstone around marine spatial planning for kelp and shellfish aquaculture site selection in Puget Sound. Post graduate school Corinne completed a Science Communication fellowship followed by a one-year Hershman Fellowship through the University and Washington Sea Grant working on numerous projects including an Equity Guidebook about incorporating environmental justice into ecosystem monitoring.

Originally hailing from Golden, Colorado, she enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and trail running.