Shellfish Aquaculture Innovation Laboratory

With initial support from the Ratcliffe Foundation, the Shellfish Aquaculture Innovation Laboratory (SAIL) was established in 2019 to develop new technologies to improve aquaculture production of shellfish in Maryland and the Atlantic Coast of the US. Seafood is one of Maryland’s largest industries. As the demand for sustainable seafood has grown in recent years,  aquaculture, and particularly shellfish aquaculture production has increased to meet this demand.  Although aquaculture provides a sustainable and economically promising alternative to wild harvest, the industry continues to face challenges with policy, society, and the environment. SAIL’s mission is to help the industry overcome production barriers and serve as a research and development hub for aquaculture in Maryland. SAIL is also a multi-use laboratory space for addressing pressing environmental challenges such as native oyster restoration and understanding the impact of climate change on shellfish and coastal ecosystems. 

Our Mission

SAIL’s mission is two fold; to help the aquaculture industry overcome production barriers and serve as a research and development hub for aquaculture in Maryland and the Atlantic US coast, while also addressing pressing environmental challenges and understanding the impact of climate change on shellfish and coastal ecosystems.