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V O L . X X X I N O. X I X 96 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine I N N OVAT I O N / R & D Center, the Brady Lab at University of Maine's Darling Marine Center, Maine Sea Grant, Island Institute and Coastal Enterprises Inc.," Steuber said. Marketing Mostly, marketing has been direct and relationship-based with fishermen, aquaculturists and researchers at trade shows like Maine Fishermen's Forum, where the startup debuted the prod- uct, plus visits to wharves and docks and gear demonstrations. "We also work with nonprofit and academic partners who help validate the pot's performance in the field," said Steuber. "Our website and social media presence support this hands-on outreach." Commercialization While tests have been underway on the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center's experimental aquaculture lease site off in Walpole since October 2024, com- mercialization is just beginning with the recent completion of and a first manu- facturing run of 100 units. About half will go to fishermen interested in diver- sifying into aquaculture or sea farmers for their existing aquaculture operations. About a quarter will be used for con- tinued trials in a pilot program among lobstermen in Saint George. Collaborating as a contract manufac- turer, omaston-based lobster trap pro- ducer Brooks Trap Mill cut and bent the wire components and Seascale is com- pleting final assembly before delivery. Seascale has a provisional patent on the product design and will be submit- ting its application for a full patent within the year. "In licensing this design to exist- ing trap manufacturers within Maine, it will allow Seascale to scale and meet demand for the Maine Scallop Pot as adoption and implementation contin- ues in the state," he said. e goal is not to become a manufac- turer, but to license the design to existing lobster trap manufacturers. "We don't want to compete with existing manufacturers, but instead are interested in providing a diversified product for them to manufacture as there is fluctuation within the lobster industry," he said. ere's additional opportunity for expanding to other regions where trap fisheries are experiencing pres- sure and could benefit from diversi- fying income with the design, which is applicable for any commercial fishing boat with a hydraulic hauler, he continued. "By using an intellectual property and licensing model, Seascale can morph its design to mimic the pre- dominant form factor of the gear used by these other fisheries and license the designs to local manufacturers within those regions," he said. ere's also an opportunity in industries that cultivate other species such as urchins, hardshell clams and oysters, he added. Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz Harold Alfond Hall Husson College of Business Banogr, Maine BUILDING ON OUR PROMISE Follow us — Facebook —Instagram —LinkedIn 33 Sheridan Drive, Fairfield Maine 04937 Phone (207) 453-9311 • Fax (207) 453-2820 WWW.SHERIDANCORP.COM DESIGN BUILD • GENERAL CONTRACTING • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • ENGINEERING » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F S E A S C A L E The Maine Scallop Pot has a lobster trap's external structure but is fitted with shellfish bags and is purpose built for growing scallops.

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