The U.S. National Sea Grant College Program recently announced $3.4 million in federal funding to support aquaculture research and outreach. The funding leverages federal dollars with state matching funds to support 11 research projects and 23 projects to transfer aquaculture information to industry and communities.
New research projects totaling $3 million in federal funds include research on managing the complex profile of biotoxins threatening the shellfish industry of lower Chesapeake Bay, integrating mussel and long-line kelp structures and management in New Hampshire, and developing technologies to expand the supply of emerging marine finfish fingerlings for commercial offshore aquaculture systems among other topics.
Outreach projects totaling $400,000 in federal funding will support conferences, workshops, training and technology transfer efforts focused on advancing aquaculture knowledge, management and collaboration.
Projects include strengthening the network of fishpond practitioners in Hawaii, building collaboration among the aquaculture and fishing industries in California, and training shellfish aquaculturists in Connecticut among others. A complete list of aquaculture conference and training projects funded in the 2016 competition is also available.
The $3.4 million in grants is part of Sea Grant’s $9 million national aquaculture research and technology transfer portfolio in 2016. Additional components of the portfolio include ongoing aquaculture research efforts ($1.8M for 27 projects) and ongoing technology transfer and extension efforts ($3.1M) by Sea Grant universities and partners around the country.
For more information, visit: seagrant.noaa.gov
source: National Sea Grant College Program