An aquaculture farmhand flips oyster bags from a kayak (Photo: John Freidah)

Introducing a paid internship program to grow seafood here in Massachusetts!

The Massachusetts aquaculture industry is in search of staff who are reliable and willing to learn. Aquaculture Internships for Massachusetts (AIM), a collaborative partnership with MIT  Sea Grant, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant, and Barnstable County Cooperative Extension, will pay  you to learn about aquaculture. No prior experience is needed. Spend much of the year in  an internship trying out a variety of roles within the industry – and discover if aquaculture  is the right work path for you! Apply by February 25, 2024.

  • Are you a reliable, hard worker?
  • Do you want to work outside?
  • Looking for steady work in a growing industry?
  • Join the growing aquaculture trade!

>>View the flyer

>>Program details (schedules, expectations)

>>View the application form

Program Design

  • We will take 12 trainees from multiple communities.
  • April 15-26, 2024: 2 weeks of training, including an introduction to the ocean environment and the basics of aquaculture
  • April 29 – May 17, 2024: 3 weeks of trial rotations that serve as extended interviews. Each intern will work at 3 different host sites for 1 week at a time (like aquaculture farms, seafood processors, or shellfish management departments).
  • June 3 – December 27, 2024: Host sites will offer internships to trainees to work for the remainder of 2024.
  • Spring 2025: Interns attend a 1-day conference

Housing

  • During training: Housing near the worksite will be provided.
  • During rotations and internships: You may receive $200/week for housing. In some cases, housing will be provided at no cost.

Payment

  • You will be paid $1400 for training and $2100 for completing the rotations.
  • During internships, you will be paid at least $17.50/hour.
  • You will receive funding to support travel to and from work sites.

Questions?

Contact: Danny Badger, MIT Sea Grant
badgerd@mit.edu | 617-253-9308