My previous occupation was a Marine Scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources. I initially worked in the Public Health Division, specializing in pollution identification and abatement as well as shellfish biotoxin testing and management; then transferred to work in lobster & herring stock assessment and management. I left the bureaucratic marine science career to bring my knowledge and expertise to the oyster aquaculture industry, and used my success in that field to expand my market offerings to other local sea foods. I now have the privilege of working with several skilled watermen, and pay them a higher than average price for their catch. Aquaculturists and local fishing families are natural stewards of our waterways, and work towards sustaining our ecosystems for generations to come, while preserving our working waterfronts.