The purpose of building aquaculture together is to develop supportive relationships between sea grant programs and minority serving institutions (msis), including schools that are interested or…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $1.5 million cooperative agreement to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science on June 1, 2026, under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417) to establish regional collaborative relationships between Sea Grant programs and minority serving institutions pursuing aquaculture development in the Mid-Atlantic–New England region.

The recipient will convene a regional collaborative comprising Sea Grant aquaculture extension specialists, minority serving institutions across a spectrum of interested-to-established aquaculture programs, non-minority serving institutions with established aquaculture programs, and regional aquaculture industry association representatives. The collaborative will meet virtually to discuss project activities and conduct professional development webinars and workshops. The recipient will develop a regional needs assessment of minority serving institutions' aquaculture capabilities and needs in collaboration with the collaborative, design a one-year regional funding opportunity for minority serving institutions based on assessment findings, and host an in-person workshop at project conclusion to showcase findings and strengthen relationships among participants.

The project runs through May 31, 2029, with place of performance in Cambridge, Maryland. Expected outcomes include strengthened relationships and knowledge-exchange networks for minority serving institutions interested in aquaculture, enhanced understanding of minority serving institution and student needs through the needs assessment, and support for aquaculture programs at a minimum of three minority serving institutions. Minority serving institutions and their students interested in or established in aquaculture are the intended beneficiaries.

Activities

A regional collaborative will be created and consist of at least one sea grant aquaculture extension specialist from each program in the region, msis across a spectrum of interested-to-established aquaculture programs, non-msis with established aquaculture programs, and regional aquaculture industry association representatives. The collaborative will meet virtually over the course of the project to discuss project-related activities and conduct professional development webinars and workshops. A regional needs assessment of msis will be developed in collaboration with the collaborative. A one-year funding opportunity for msis in the region will be developed from the needs assessment findings, and an in-person workshop will be hosted at the end of the project to showcase funded project findings and solidify relationships developed over the course of the project.

Expected outcomes

Relationships between regional sea grant programs and msis interested in aquaculture will be strengthened through the collaborative, which will also provide a network that msis can utilize for knowledge exchanges, future collaborations, and programmatic support. The needs of msis and their students interested in aquaculture will be better understood through the needs assessment findings report. The aquaculture programs and activities of at least three msis will be supported.

Intended beneficiaries

Msis and their students interested, or already established, in aquaculture are the intended beneficiaries of this project. Results of the project will be shared with msis through the collaborative, as well as with the broader community and aquaculture industry through outreach at various aquaculture- and education-related conferences and events.

Subrecipient activities

Maryland sea grant is working directly with morgan state university patuxent environmental and aquatic research laboratory, a historically black college and university in maryland, who will lead the needs assessment portion of the project. Minorities in aquaculture, a non-profit organization focused on educating individuals and groups about aquaculture and viable career opportunities, will help create and guide collaborative activities. Lastly, new hampshire sea grant and maryland sea grant will CO-lead the collaborative and professional development activities, development of the funding opportunity, coordination of the in-person workshop and summary workshop report. Several funding opportunity awardees will also be subrecipients.