Construction of this Franklin, ME research facility was completed in the spring of 2007. Freshwater Institute staff finished production modeling and bioprogramming for the USDA in 2004 and the final design of the aquaculture production systems in 2005. The NCWMAC is a research facility established to improve the efficiency and sustainability of coldwater marine finfish farming. The initial focus of center research in Franklin is the development of an Atlantic salmon breeding program to improve fish growth and other economically important traits in stocks that are entirely composed of North American germplasm.