DAMARISCOTTA – Edward Myers, the founder of Maine’s aquaculture industry, is dead at age 85.

Myers died Sept. 19 at Miles Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Hillside, N.J., Myers and his family settled in Damariscotta in 1949. Myers also founded Saltwater Farm, a mail-order seafood business, that year.

In 1973, Myers established Abandoned Farm, the first mussel aquaculture operation in North America, on the Damariscotta River.

Myers served as administrator of the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Research Center in Walpole between 1969 and 1974.

He also lent his expertise to the advisory council of the state Department of Marine Resources and testified before the state Legislature on numerous measures related to marine resources and aquaculture.

Myers frequently wrote about environmental issues for trade publications.

Myers is survived by his wife, his sister, four children, four grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. The burial will be private.