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Aquaculture

Sea Grant invests in the development of sustainable marine and Great Lakes aquaculture to help coastal communities maintain a safe and sustainable local seafood supply. Sea Grant’s investment in aquaculture focuses on research and technology transfer, often through one-on-one interactions with extension agents, to support and expand America’s aquaculture industry. Questions about Sea Grant’s aquaculture work or the aquaculture funding opportunity may be directed to oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov. Check out our related subjects: 

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Maine Sea Grant provides research and technical assistance to Maine’s oyster growers. Photo credit: Christopher Katalinas, National Sea Grant Office

From FY 2018 to 2022, Sea Grant’s average annual federal investment of $16.3 million in aquaculture resulted in a yearly average* of:

$69.6

MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT

572

BUSINESSES

1,147

JOBS

71

PUBLICATIONS

*Metrics are direct results of Sea Grant work between February 1, 2018 and January 31, 2023, as reported by Sea Grant programs through June 2023. Sea Grant’s average annual federal investment during this time = $16.3 million. Sea Grant Investment = Funding to advance aquaculture research, technology transfer, and extension. Economic impact = market and non-market value of Sea Grant’s work related to aquaculture; value of jobs and businesses. Businesses = the number of aquaculture businesses created or sustained as a result of Sea Grant efforts. Jobs = aquaculture jobs created or sustained as a result of Sea Grant efforts.

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Meet the Experts

"We've seen one farm grow to now 14 farms, so it has been a tremendous growth in the past 7 years."
Michael Chambers, Ph.D.Marine Aquaculture Extension Specialist, N.H. Sea Grant - Michael Chambers designed an Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Platform which provides seed to local farmers to help sustain oyster, mussel and seaweed aquaculture in the region.
Michael Chambers, Ph.D.
"It's been exciting to see the sector get its feet under it and really solidify."
Dana MorseMarine Extension Associate, Maine Sea Grant - Dana Morse provides training and technical assistance to shellfish farmers to help advance an emerging aquaculture industry and satisfy the demand for sustainable seafood in the region.
Dana Morse
"It is fulfilling to participate in an expanding industry that provides food for people at the same time as creating stakeholders in the industry who want to protect the environment and also cleaning the water itself."
Rob HeinAquaculture Technician, Georgia Sea Grant - Rob Hein provides technical assistance to Georgia Sea Grant's oyster hatchery that is the sole provider of seed to oyster growers in the state.
Rob Hein
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"We've seen one farm grow to now 14 farms, so it has been a tremendous growth in the past 7 years."
Michael Chambers, Ph.D.Marine Aquaculture Extension Specialist, N.H. Sea Grant - Michael Chambers designed an Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Platform which provides seed to local farmers to help sustain oyster, mussel and seaweed aquaculture in the region.
Michael Chambers, Ph.D.
"It's been exciting to see the sector get its feet under it and really solidify."
Dana MorseMarine Extension Associate, Maine Sea Grant - Dana Morse provides training and technical assistance to shellfish farmers to help advance an emerging aquaculture industry and satisfy the demand for sustainable seafood in the region.
Dana Morse
"It is fulfilling to participate in an expanding industry that provides food for people at the same time as creating stakeholders in the industry who want to protect the environment and also cleaning the water itself."
Rob HeinAquaculture Technician, Georgia Sea Grant - Rob Hein provides technical assistance to Georgia Sea Grant's oyster hatchery that is the sole provider of seed to oyster growers in the state.
Rob Hein
Previous
Next

Reference Resources

Sea Grant 5-Year Aquaculture Investment Plan, 2024 (pdf)
Sea Grant National Aquaculture Portfolio & Highlights, 2018-2024 (pdf)
10-year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision, 2016 (pdf)
Summary fact sheet of the 10-year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision, 2016 (pdf)

Story Highlights

Science & Seafood

Sea Grant invests in the development of sustainable marine and Great Lakes aquaculture businesses to help coastal communities maintain a safe and sustainable local seafood supply that complements, not replaces, wild-caught fisheries.

Sea Grant Knows Oysters

Here at Sea Grant, we study oysters (a lot!), and we support hundreds of small businesses that grow, harvest, and serve oysters by providing training and technical assistance.

Resources from NOAA Fisheries

Read more about what NOAA is doing for aquaculture at the NOAA Fisheries website.

Featured Aquaculture Research

Aquaculture Funding

See open opportunities

Aquaculture Hubs

As part of Sea Grant’s 2019 National Aquaculture Initiative, 11 funded projects are focused on accelerating the development of specific aquaculture topics through integrated teams of professionals. These teams established collaborative programs, commonly referred to as “Hubs”, to plan for and appropriately focus the next generation of aquaculture investments while enhancing the synthesis and transfer of past research advances to the industry.

Aquaculture Hub Links:

NATIONAL AQUACULTURE SYMPOSIA

In Fall 2021, the National Sea Grant Office hosted two Aquaculture Research Symposia to bring together researchers and their teams involved in projects funded through the 2019 National Strategic Initiative competitions. Awardees shared their work and findings with members of the aquaculture community through live talks, followed by time for discussion. Please see the links below for PDFs of project presentations.

The first symposium was held October 25-29, 2021 and focused on projects funded through the “Exploring New Aquaculture Opportunities” and the “Social/Behavioral/Economic Needs in Aquaculture” competitions.

The second symposium was held November 1-3, 2021 and focused on projects funded through the “Advanced Aquaculture Research Collaboratives” (Hubs) competition.

Aquaculture News

Learn More About Aquaculture

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