The technical industry advisory committee develops research and extension priorities based on industry input defining their needs

A request for proposals is developed by the tiac and approved by the nrac board of directors. Proposals are competively submitted by qualified research and extension people and the proposal are reviewed both internally and externally. The reviews are based on good science, applicability of the proposal to the priorities in the RFA, regional nature of the proposal and related criteria. The highest rated proposals are then submitted by the tiac to the BOD for approval. Approved projects are included in the plan of work submitted to USDA, nifa for approval. If approved by nifa, nrac prepares contracts to the home instituion of the principal investigator to fund the project. The project is then carried out by the investigators according to the plan in the approved proposal and results are reported to nrac and distributed as widely as possible through websites, extension activities and other means. Specific results depend on the project funded and the problem defined. However, all projects are relevant to the aquaculture industry in the northeast US and address a problem defined by the industry as a contraint on industry development.